Faustina is quickly approaching 3 years old and she is in a new stage of learning and reasoning. In many way, it seems unnecessary and almost silly to explain concepts to people so young. Yet, the last several months, Mike and I have witnessed how she needs an explanation for everything. Why?
- she wants to learn
- she wants to understand
- she wants the truth
- she wants to be an adult
- little kids are not stupid, they are capable of more than we often give them credit for
How much does she really understand? Who knows. But that doesn't matter. She is learning how to learn.
Faustina has been spending a lot of time in 'time-out' or her crib lately. She will scream and scream relentlessly for over an hour. But, if she receives an explanation for her punishment along with a time-out - she usually is accepting of it. After 15 minutes of her screaming, if I go into her room and give her reasons why being rude to Mom and Dad is wrong and that she needs to be quiet in her crib for 10 minutes, then she is okay.
Little people really are fascinating as a parents witnesses personalities emerge. Faustina is the type that when she makes a decision to do something - she does it and doesn't turn back - but again, she needs to know why she is doing something. I can see the wheels turning in her head when we explain ideas to her.
Last fall Faustina was still taking a bottle of milk to bed - a comfort for her. We had tried to ween her off it before, to let her cry without it, and other things - all to no avail. Finally we set her down and explained that she was too big for this habit, milk was bad for her teeth, etc. And from that night on she never had milk again. She never asked for it or cried - she quit the habit cold turkey. In fact, she would give us 'lessons' about why she couldn't have milk anymore. When she was 17 months, she potty trained herself, and last week she moved into a big girl bed. Again, we had attempted this move before so that Jude could move into the sturdy crib Grandpa made - but she was not ready, there was no reason for her to change her situation. I sat down with her one afternoon and explained that the crib was too small for her now, Jude was scooting his pack 'n play crib across the room because he was getting to big for it, and other things. Then, she was ready for the change.
When I carry her screaming to her room in a tantrum, she doesn't seem like a reasonable being. And technically, 7 is the age of reason. There, however, is more than meets the eye at these younger years.
No comments:
Post a Comment