some twin fun and mischief

The girls are becoming quite mean to each other. They hit and bite each other. When the little man was this age, I was right there to do some reverse time-out. I either put him down if I was carrying him, or turn my back on him when he hits. We've been doing the same thing with the girls, but it's not been as effective because they reinforce each other's bad behavior. Sometimes the other think it funny being hit and giggles, so the other keeps doing it. Oi! Just this weekend, Thing 1 bit Thing 2 on the arm. Hard. There was no mistaking that cry of pain. I didn't know how she was hurt at first, but then a the evidence appeared a minute later. Her arm was swollen for a day or two.

On the other hand, Thing 1 is becoming more and more confident with herself and takes more and more steps. She walked 3 feet just yesterday. She no longer does a head dive after taking two steps. Instead, she steadies herself and walks some more. Thing 2 now experiments with standing up by herself in the middle of the room, just like Thing 1 did a few weeks ago.

Today, fun consisted of riding on Big Brother's Wiggles push car and one pushing the other.

It's Time for Obedience Training

When dogs have behavioral problems, a great answer is to take them for obedience training. Do you think it works with toddlers?

Matty bit two kids in his class today. He told me about it as soon as I walked in when I picked him up. The teacher was quite amused that he was telling on himself. Oh, but I wasn't amused.

According to the teacher, Matty bit someone out of frustration this morning. But since it was out of character for him (everyone at school loves him for being such the model student), she let it go. But not 15 minutes before I picked him up, he apparently bit another kid. He didn't bite hard, thank goodness. Though I am trying to mentally prepare myself to be ambushed in the parking lot by a couple parents.

So I had a calm talk with him all the way home. Then somewhere between the school and our house, I thought there should be a punishment. I told him TV and video games aren't allowed this evening. Then the crying and the hollering and the "I want my Daddy" started.

He is probably too young for the punishment, and the punishment doesn't quite fit the crime (I'm all for natural consequences) but I couldn't think of anything else at the moment. I mean, what's the natural consequence for biting someone? Help me out, in case it happens again. Though I doubt that it would. I'm pretty good at scaring the bajeezuz out of someone.