Venturing Toward Independence

Lately I'm feeling like I need to read some parenting books. It isn't that the boys are really all that different, but they are becoming more, shall we say, independent. This is great of course, as long as I can figure out a way to shape that independence into a framework that creates two cute little boys rather than two monsters that freak out if they can't stuff grapes in their trucks.

Craig and I were just talking about the "No!" stage and, luckily, we haven't had too much of that response. We've always used, "That's not for Gavin/Graeme!" or "We don't do that..." something less "No" like. I think by doing this, our kids thankfully only use "No" at the right time. (Knock on wood.) And, even when they do use it, they've developed an endearing way of saying no.

When Gavin was learning to talk, he said, "No, nee, no!" And that made his defiance sweet. Now that Graeme is learning to talk, he's developed his own way... "Nah! Noooo!" It usually trails off a bit, which is even cuter.

It's not really the no's that I'm concerned with these days. It's the "poo's" and "hush's" and bips, boops, foodoo-foodoo's, fwaps, and punks... and all the other interesting behaviors that have surfaced. These behaviors are, of course, accompanied by their own language. Translation?

Bip, boop, fwaps = all some form of hitting usually during play, most always when I'm trying to get someone changed or dressed

Foodoo-foodoo = messing up one's hair (funny when he does it to Graeme, not so with me)

Punk = some sort of tweak, usually associated with the backside

Gavin is the instigator of everything, yet Graeme is right beside learning ALL the new words and behaviors. Where's that book Celeste sent me??? Let's go find it...