Lessons to a four year old.

[lovetriangle]

My own nature is at odds with my desire to teach my daughter a lesson. Harumph.

I have always been a hard worker and I like to buy things with my money. As such, I usually take care of things I buy so they'll last. I use things for their intended purpose rather than wear them out on tasks they weren't designed for, etc, etc, etc, and I get overly upset at having to re-buy something I have already bought. That's just part of being me.

Now, add to this one four year old. A four year old leaves things behind. Toys. Sweaters. Bags of food. Shoes. You name it. I need her to learn that if she doesn't keep track of her stuff, she won't get to keep it.

Unfortunately, I am compelled to return to wherever we've been to attempt to get her items back. Also, unfortunately, I almost always do. I'd be ok if I tried but couldn't get it back; then my compulsion would be satisfied and she'd learn her lesson. Instead, she is learning that whatever she leaves behind mom can just go get.

Life is never easy.

Comments

[myralea.livejournal.com]

well, even if you retrieve the lost items, you don't really have to hand them back to your girl everytime do you?

/m

[fioretti.livejournal.com]

What she said. We did that with my niece all the time. After her favorite Power Ranger, and then her stuffed donkey-toy "went missing" never to be seen again (after having been left repeatedly for Mommy to pick up) she started to get the idea.

[love3angle.livejournal.com]

Yeah, this is what we've done so far. But she has a very good memory. She knows eventually she will get things back and she has the patience of Job.

A very odd child. :-)

The doll she left at the store is being stashed right now in the toy she had taken away for making fun of someone's lunch at school yesterday. :-(

Deal with the tears and the tantrum....

[stellrchef.livejournal.com]

that will inevitably come when you really don't give it back. We haven't had to impart this particular lesson to our 5 year old yet. But she has been warned (i.e.) that if she ruins her ladybug umbrella by playing with it like a toy she only gets a plain black umbrella to replace it. It's a necessity when it's raining but it doesn't necessarily have to be the umbrella she'd like to have.

If it's something necessary (shoes) I say....don't return to get it and replace it with something functional but not desirable. If it's not necessary..she's out of luck and you're not replacing it, period, end of discussion.

And then have a good cry when you get home and she's in bed and have someone nearby to reassure you that you're not a bad Mom for being so "mean"......