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Ok, let me start off by saying that I put this here because it just doesn't really seem to fit in the toddler section. I also didn't put it in GD because, while I do consider myself quite gentle, I'm not sure if I'm exactly "GD". Mods, feel free to move it if you disagree with me. I just thought maybe some moms of older/sassier kids would have some good advice for me. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile"><br><br>
My son (2y, 4m) is starting to develop a sassy streak. For instance, "It's time to take a bath." "No." "Yes, come on. We can play with bubbles in the tub." "I said no."<br><br>
Of course that's just one example. By all intents and purposes he's a sweet, generally agreeable, yet slightly sassy boy. He's also very verbal and thinks/acts/talks like your average 3 year old. I usually secretly giggle at his sass at this point, but I want to make sure it doesn't progress to something more serious as he gets older. Usually I just remind him that "Mommy said xyz because of abc." If he still fights me, I can just say "One" and he skips off to do as I asked. I'm just really sure what he thinks will come after that lol. I think it just lets him know that I'm not playing and that I'm serious. I wonder though, if I'm missing a step after that, like asking him to apologize, or somehow letting him know that I don't appreciate "talking back". How do you even explain what talking back is?<br><br>
ETA: I realized, after reading what I wrote here, that this may be a perfectly developmentally appropriate stage, and it doesn't mean he's going to grow up to be disrespectful. I sometimes get surprised looks from people when he says something like that, but I'm thinking that it might just be because people are not used to hearing a child his age speak so clearly and complexly. I'm still curious to hear others' take on it.
My son (2y, 4m) is starting to develop a sassy streak. For instance, "It's time to take a bath." "No." "Yes, come on. We can play with bubbles in the tub." "I said no."<br><br>
Of course that's just one example. By all intents and purposes he's a sweet, generally agreeable, yet slightly sassy boy. He's also very verbal and thinks/acts/talks like your average 3 year old. I usually secretly giggle at his sass at this point, but I want to make sure it doesn't progress to something more serious as he gets older. Usually I just remind him that "Mommy said xyz because of abc." If he still fights me, I can just say "One" and he skips off to do as I asked. I'm just really sure what he thinks will come after that lol. I think it just lets him know that I'm not playing and that I'm serious. I wonder though, if I'm missing a step after that, like asking him to apologize, or somehow letting him know that I don't appreciate "talking back". How do you even explain what talking back is?<br><br>
ETA: I realized, after reading what I wrote here, that this may be a perfectly developmentally appropriate stage, and it doesn't mean he's going to grow up to be disrespectful. I sometimes get surprised looks from people when he says something like that, but I'm thinking that it might just be because people are not used to hearing a child his age speak so clearly and complexly. I'm still curious to hear others' take on it.
