Just done what I've always said you shouldn't do. Asked DGS and DGD if they'd like to help me put ironing away (as a ruse, so as not to risk leaving them with hot iron). Wrong! Shouldn't ask. Better to tell them, animatedly: 'Come on! Let's put this away,' as if a trip to the airing cupboard is only second best to a trip to Disneyland.
DGD complied instantly. DGS hung fire. So I asked again. Duh! Wouldn't you like to... 'No thank you,' said DGS sweetly.
DGD and I did the dirty deed, shutting DGS out of room with iron. Found him, on our return, having shut himself in cloakroom, standing in the corner with his face turned to the wall and thumb in mouth. What did I do? Wrong again! Picked him up, sat him on my lap and talked to him - thus reinforcing his non-compliance and ignoring DGD's helpful behaviour.
What a dunce. Should have been me standing in the corner with my face turned to the wall.
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