for not expecting a 2yo to call my bluff

[StealthPolarBear]

I asked dd to come upstairs and get dressed
She asked why?
Because we're going to
But I don't want to
Ok shall we just go and leave you here? (usually is followed by a frenzy of dressing and cries of NO NO
Ok I just stay here

I know they say don't threaten something you can't follow through, but really! Have I been outsmarted by a toddler?

[StealthPolarBear]

Well yes it will come to that eventually but in the meantime iwas hoping I could reason with her (and win :o)

[MsMarple]

Ha ha, glad I am not the only one with a child who can see through idle threats!

If you don't want to win by force maybe try carrot approach: lets take your toys with us to show them/there will be cake when we get there etc?

[DontstepontheMomeRaths]

Crystals are you my Mother?

You have been outsmarted Stealth

[StealthPolarBear]

Would ot be evil to do the getting in the car, waving through the window thing?

[PurplePidjin]

"Little girls who don't do as Mummy says clearly aren't old enough to stay home alone"

Then the under the arm up the stairs manoeuvre as already mentioned

[WorraLiberty]

Would ot be evil to do the getting in the car, waving through the window thing?

Oh come on!

Do you really want to be outsmarted by a toddler twice in one day?

[PurplePidjin]

Or take her in her pj's. Text Aunty to warn her, who can then do a massively overdramatic "DD hates mummy and me, she won't do as she's told, she doesn't want to come play with me waaaaaaah" routine on the doorstep...

[WorraLiberty]

There's a 10yr age gap between my DS1 and my DS3

Whenever DS1 used to leave the house, I'd automatically say "Seeya later...be careful"

The only time I ever threatened to leave DS3 behind when he was a toddler, he shouted, "Ok Mum seeya later, love ya, be careful!"

Git!

[StealthPolarBear]

True, we would be in the car, half on the drive, wondering what to do while she makes herself some lunch and runs the Hoover round
Hang on...can I definitely not?

[Shelby2010]

Well I've just been 'distracted' by a 19mth old...... DD had picked up something & I couldn't see what it was so called her over to 'show that to Mummy'. So she comes over, staying cunningly out of reach, but refuses to hand over the item. Instead she looks round, hands me my phone off the coffee table with a loud 'There!' and walks off! Leaving me feeling a bit patronised & having to get off my lazy arse to go after her.....

[JamieandTheOlympicTorch]

My DS1 never fell for this.

Try telling her the opposite of what you want her to do, or try challenging her (I bet you can't .....) or racing her (works a treat with DS2), or counting down (don't know why it works so well but my 11 year old still falls for it".

Look at the book "Playful Parenting" for other non-confrontational ways to get things done.

In the end, what you say goes, but there are ways of doing it that enable you both to keep calm in order to reach that goal.

Low voice, bored policemen, not screechy.

Don't ask questions you don't want to hear the answer to, don't discuss

[JamieandTheOlympicTorch]

God I sound patronising. Sorry

[Mrsjay]

outwitted by a toddler all down hill from here stealth

[QuickLookBusy]

Ah she sounds very sweet.

Just tell DD that her Aunt has phoned you, is looking forward to seeing her very much and wants a big cuddle, so can she hurry up?

[MammaTJ]

On the plus side, you have a very bright child!

[SoupDragon]

Meh. Just take her in whatever she is wearing.

[WorraLiberty]

Shelby

[Mrsjay]

once threatened to take dd1 to playgroup in her jammies she promptly put her wellies and jacket on sigh

[LapisBlue]

You're NEGOTIATING with a 2 year old? Really? I mean...really?

[StealthPolarBear]

It was birthday suit! She is well behaved, this wasn't naughtiness as. Such. She is now dressed and we're on the road

[D0oinMeCleanin]

Dd2 does this. It caught me totally off guard as dd1 would panic and come tearing after you. Dd2 fears nothing.

My usual tactic of walking off in the opposite direction and waving bye while she wa refusing to come down off the slide would result in gleeful waving followed by sliding and giggling. Even when I hid round the corner (something that always worked with dd1) she would continue to giggle and play completly unconcerned that she was now 'alone'

She told me other day that she would get ready when she could be bothered, put the dogs to bed, lock up the house and walk herself to my sister's house for dinner, while I was trying to get her ready so I wasn't late for work. She is 5. She's have done it too, if I'd let her.

[LapisBlue]

Mummy's house, Mummy's rules, the word NO. Has the world gone a bit mad?

[Mrsjay]

I think some posters are taking this a bit too serious it is all very lighthearted and baby stealth is an obvious genuis glad she is dressed she wouldve been freezing going out in the buff,