Unconditional Parents please come in...

[zombie_bride]

I am in the middle of reading Unconditional Parenting and everything really clicks with me, I love it and have been more or less practicing it since I had my daughter. But I have one question and maybe he addresses this in the book at some point but I haven't gotten there.

So here's a scenario so you can understand what I mean.
This morn I am trying to make breaky and DD (2) climbs up on the tv stand right next to Daddy's flat screen and starts banging on it I go over, get down on her level and explain to her that it could break Dad's tv and how Dad would be really upset she looks as if she understands only to turn around and do it again. I distracted her for a few mins only to have her do the same thing as soon as I turn my back. She is not listening at all and totally looks at me with a devious expression waiting for me to get angry as I have in the past. I can tell she is pushing me and I dont want to get angry so how else do I handle it. Unconditional parents, what do you do in these situations?

[healthy momma]

Unfortunately, I've only got a second but thought I'd just throw out one main thing that struck me. After an explanation like that I also try to figure out what need of my son's is being met by the action he is taking. Then I try to introduce a new and acceptable way for him to meet that need. Maybe it's a need to climb. A need to bang on something. Can you put her near you (learning towers are fantastic in the kitchen) and give her something to bang on?

Just my quick thoughts!

[Carhootel]

I second the recommendation for banging on something else. it sounds like she wanted attention and was full of energy (but when isn't that true ) maybe give her somethign else to bang on and do it with her for a minute before going back to your task. Maybe ask her if she wanted to help you cook breakfast? and find a way to include her and make that fun, maybe take some special things out of the cabinet and as you tell her what you're doing in the kitchen she can "help" in the cabinets or something like that...

[mamazee]

I would find something more fun for her to bang on. Maybe get some pots out of a cupboard and some wooden spoons so she can do it right by you. What would be the other (non-UP) way of handling this?