Re-directing. That is what is you are supposed to do, according to "the experts" in child development, when a little one is doing something that you object too. I object to him putting his hands into Mile's water dish and then pouring it all over his body. Following that, he throws his hands in the puddle of water and "splashes" until it is spread all over the kitchen floor. In my objection to this action, I immediately re-directed him down the hall for his bubble bath. He ran straight for the toilet faster than I could catch him, and plunged his hands in the bowl which was left open by mistake. A lovely few moments of splashing and water play.
Note to self: "NO!" will probably be a better choice than re-direction in the future.
One other note of interest today. Jackson has acquired a very bad personality trait of mine that I am sad to admit. I do, however, have hope that he will overcome it. I was born with no persistence. If I can't do something right away, I give up and usually turn my back on it. It's an awful trait. Jackson tries something challenging, repeats "EH, EH, EH" like he is struggling to lift a 50 pound boulder, and then plops himself on the floor and rolls around in a big mess. No tantrum really - no screaming or crying in frustration - just an all out giving up of sorts. I think that I will follow suit tonight. I am giving up on this day. I am going to do right now....it is 7:45, Jackson is in bed, and I am headed to dreamland.
Goodnight.
