Consequence example and food update... last night we had pretty simple spaghetti and homemade meatballs/sauce.
The kids love it, even though they get pretty messy, but that is what baths are for... however, last night was not bath night so it was a mess.
Anyway, after dinner that we surpriginsly well, no crazy outbursts or fits, we were watching kid cartoons for a bit and my oldest was twirling her hair.
Me... don't twirl your hair... it will cause knots
Her... no it won't (strong willed)
Me... sweetie, it is all about choices... remember, Daddy has long hair and knows about this stuff.
Her... no, your hair is shorter than mine (true, but not what I wanted to hear)
Me... don't twirl your hair... it will hurt in the morning when I comb it out.
Her... some story that doesn't pertain to anything that is going on trying to divert attention away from her being on the hot seat.
Me... don't twirl your hair...
Her... no longer listening (attention span ~7 seconds)
fast forward to the morning.
Me... time to get ready, start brushing hair
Her... screaming bloody murder as the knots were pretty bad and she wakes up her sister.
Me... time to get the scissors, we are cutting it off, they won't come out.
Her... sobbing noooooooooo, I won't do it again.
I made her clean the brush afterwards and she saw all the hair and saw all the knots.
For the next 20 minutes at home and the next 20 minutes in the truck going to class she was saying how she was NOT twirling her hair, just to let me know.
We went into daycare, she told everyone what had happened and what she wasn't going to do anymore cause her head hurt.
So, yes, it is never to early... when she said goodbye to me, she whispered to me that she wouldn't twirl her hair.
I am pretty sure she won't do that again... I told her it was all about choices and that Daddy is pretty smart about some things.
The best part was, when she got up this morning she asked if she could have some meatballs for breakfast, so apparently I did something right... but she had to settle for cheerios.
cb