Got Quads?

When you’re outnumbered four toddlers to two parents, discipline is key. Hubby and I make every effort to be firm and consistent. Sometimes, though, it’s hard to discipline our daughters without laughing when they come up with gems like these:

Me: Why did you just bite your sister?

Cakes: I thought she might bite me so I bit her first.

(See, they’re already figuring out how to use self-defense)

Me: Sue-Sue you need to get out of the baby doll bed right now.

Sue-Sue: No, I’m using it as a boat.

Me: It’s not a boat. It’s for dolls. You’ll break it…. Sue-Sue, get out… Thank you. Now if you get back in there you lose your shoulder ride tonight and I won’t give you a warning.

Sue-Sue: I want a warning. Pleeeeeease. Pleeeeease give me a warning. Mommy can I have a warning?? Don’t take away my warning.

(We have a few silly routines at bedtime, such as a shoulder ride through the hallway. If you behave all day you’re allowed to participate in the various silliness. Apparently Sue-Sue thought “warning” was a name for one of our games.)

My all time favorite moment of toddler logic happened one day after school. The preschool teacher told me about an “incident” with Sue-Sue. At snack time all of my daughters were given water while the rest of the class had juice. I had asked the teachers not to give them apple juice because of the “consequences” later, but the teachers thought I asked them not to give my daughters any juice. Roo, Cakes and Tortilla drank their water. Sue-Sue chucked her cup across the room. When I had some alone time with her our conversation went like this:

Me: Did you throw your glass of water at school today?

Sue-Sue: Yes (What?? She didn’t blame Notme? What a breakthrough)

Me: Why?

Sue-Sue: I didn’t want water. I wanted juice. I said please.

Made sense to me. That’s not to say that we didn’t have a conversation about why you don’t throw your cup, but it’s hard to argue when they’re using the lessons you taught them (such as saying please). Sure we still have a lot to work on, but we’ll get there. In the meantime I’ll just have to turn my head so they don’t see me laughing.