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Lately I've noticed that my 15 mo dd will wait until I'm looking at her and then do something she knows she's not supposed to do. Then laughs her butt off. Or she loves to wave her finger back and forth and say, "no no no!" while laughing and then touch the light socket or tear the leaves off my MIL's potted plant or whatever. So far I just redirect and that works fine but it's occurred to me lately that it works TOO well. There's usually no screams or tears or any kind of being upset at all; she is just trying to let me know that she knows she's not supposed to do something but she has the ability do it anyway. Does that make sense?<br><br>
I'm not sure how to react to this...on the one hand I don't want to crush her spirit (she's such a joy, loves to laugh, smart as a whip) but on the other hand I'm afraid for what I'm in for. Her older brother at this age listened to everything I said--seriously he didn't disobey me until he was at least two--I realize now what a miracle this was and I'm not expecting a repeat but I don't want to have my dd running out into the street a year from now just because I told her not to, you know? Should I be stern with her so she knows I'm serious? Laugh with her and shake my head? Tell her every single time, "yes I know you CAN do that but I need to keep you safe so we're going in the other room now..."?
I'm not sure how to react to this...on the one hand I don't want to crush her spirit (she's such a joy, loves to laugh, smart as a whip) but on the other hand I'm afraid for what I'm in for. Her older brother at this age listened to everything I said--seriously he didn't disobey me until he was at least two--I realize now what a miracle this was and I'm not expecting a repeat but I don't want to have my dd running out into the street a year from now just because I told her not to, you know? Should I be stern with her so she knows I'm serious? Laugh with her and shake my head? Tell her every single time, "yes I know you CAN do that but I need to keep you safe so we're going in the other room now..."?