'He is questioning my authoritay!!' [sic]

[bigmouthstrikesagain]

Said to ds (newly 3) - don't sit on the arm of the chair - sit on the seat - you will fall off! etc. blah blah... He says to me - 'But you sometimes sit on the back of the sofa?'

So is this it now? Do dh and I have to be perfect from now on? The strain will kill me! I promised ds that he can sit on the arm of the chair when his legs can reach the floor from there. But I can envisage many 'do as I say, not as I do' type conversations from now on...[sigh]

Not sure what I am saying here - I think I was hoping for a bit more time before ds cottoned on to this type of arguement

Dd is 2 and we are having these problems. I have just persuaded dh that he cannot eat biscuits for lunch because dd is not allowed to. At this point, most of our bad example seem to involve food or beverages. Jill

Yes. I can see that I am going to have to invest in a cycle helmet soon.

DS always has to wear his and I can see him sort of looking funny just above my head as I fasten it up for him.

Message withdrawn

Oh yes, one of the best catchphrases. useful in so many comic situations.

bigmouth, sort yourself out. This is the beginning. You can give pointless overly-authoritarian threats no longer. Your child has a brain and is starting to use it. You need to reason things out before you speak and show yourself to be a model example at all times. Har!!

You thought toddlerdom was hard.

3 is the worst age.

My DD now understands that some mummies have different rules (ie her friend is allowed to drink a little bit of coke, but my DD isn't).

she accepts that really well.

So the other day our conversation went something like this:

DD - can I have a little bit of your coke Mummy)

Me - no, coke is very bad for you.

DD - but you drink it mummy

Me - yes I do, but I am a mummy so it is ok,

DD - oh, you're Mummy must have had different rules then Mummy..

Me - yes she did (followed by a chuckle)

And everytime I say no to something I get

DD - When I am a mummy I will let my children ** when they are 3..

so far my future grandchildren will be allowed to drink fruit shoots, eat chewing gum, wear shorts and teeshirt every day, go out on their own and eat sweets whenever they want to

Oh joy I am really looking forward to babysitting them!

You drink coke in front of your dd who is not allowed?

Not fair

Yes I do I'm afraid.... In fact I don't really drink anything but coke (and water)...

I have drunk coke for far too many years to stop now!... (although did actually manage it whilst pregnant as I knew it wouldn't be good for DD)

To be honest I am amazed I get away with it, assumed I would have to stop, but so far she accepts that I can drink it and she can't...

Like I said, some mummies have different rules...

I am also allowed to drink lager in front of her...

heifer my friend who also loves coke told her children their teeth would go balck like her - fillings- if they drank it, they dont.

Getting away with it, aaaalllll thiiiiss tiiiime

who was that? Pet Shop Boys?

I drink beer in front of kids but then they don't like it. I've offered a little sip so they don't think it's forbidden as such. Just nasty, bitter and inappropriate.

See I'm not the only one....

Yes Cartman is my role model (dh has Homer Simpson!)...

I think I always new this was coming - ds is no fool - but being a 'good example' is tiring

I have been scrupulous in not having too many double standards as far as kids are concerned but no one is perfect - for example I am guiltily eating a sarnie on the sofa - despite not allowing dc's to eat here. He is in bed asleep - but I can still feel accusative eyes upon me [paranoid emoticon needed]...

This parenting lark is all about layers of guilt - good thing mn is here for the cleansing confession ritual !!

don't make it right, though, does it heef?

Getting away with it - not Pet shop boys

but

But I am teaching her many important lesson in life...

Self control, age resistrictions and hell can't think of any more now - am very tired - I think I need a pick me up - now what can I drink....

Christ no one will stop me having a beer in front of the kids - that is ok surely - we have to show them how to drink sensibly and that. Not that my extremely intemperate catholic scotch/ Irish/ scouse family of alkies are a particularly good example.... My dh on the other hand accuses me of being drunk if I quaff one wine and soda

No bigmouth - I think drinking booze is ok

Pointy Dog says it is unfair of me to drink diet coke infront of my DD (3.8) when I won't let her touch the stuff...

well she probably has a point - fortunately for me I cannot stand coke or lemonade - I occasionally get fiery ginger beer - I let ds try it and he was put off fizz for a while I think!! so mission accomplished

oh I know - but tbh she has never questioned my reply of No... so I carry one.

As soon as it becomes an issue I will have to stop as I really don't want her to drink it.. well certainly not for a couple of years yet..

I know that as she gets older I will let her drink it on special occassions etc, wouldn't want her to feel left out at a party etc.. but whilst she is young enough for me to control I will!...

So yes, there is 1 rule for me and lots more for you...

oh the marvellous sumner and marr! Thanks for that memory jog, heifer. I knew it was better than pure pet shop boys

I too love coke I always have though I am on rations now I am pg again

My dd doesnt and she doesnt question why I do.

Its a case of do as I say and not as I do (coke being one of a few exceptions)

I am generally a good role model...

My dd calls coke 'mummys beer' and doesn't want to try it - bloody good job as I only drink it with copious amounts of vodka mixed in and I think 2 is a little to young to start on that! (I do however have a photo of dd at 18 months taking a sneaky sip of her dad's larger - and another photo of the horrendous face she pulled as soon as the taste kicked in!)