Aug 25 2011
Time Out
TIME OUT! The two words a toddler most hates to hear. (Okay, okay, the two words a toddler second-most hates to hear – “No!” is probably the word a tot most hates to hear.) Sam knows these words. He’s known Time Out since early July, and experienced Time Out more often than he’d like since then, even in public places.
Earlier this week, after telling SAM “no” for probably the zillionth time in an hour, he got that look. You know that look – the look that says, “I don’t like you right now, and I’m going to show you just HOW much I don’t like you right now”– that look that almost inevitably leads to Time Out.
—Begin scene—
Sam: [raises little hand, ready to smack the “no” right out of Mommy]
Mommy: [gives best MeanMommy look] Do you really want to do that?
Daddy: Sam, do you need a Time Out?
Sam: [face falling, hand dropping to side, walks over to the Time Out corner and stands forlornly]
Mommy & Daddy: [stunned, then giggling] Sam, come back, baby. That’s a good boy, but you don’t have to be in Time Out right now.
S: [runs back to Mommy & Daddy, smiling]
—-End scene—
More proof that he’s an incredibly gifted child. Or that Super Nanny was right and Time Out works. Or that we just got lucky that day.