Love and Logic

I am reading this book on my kindle.It is a common behavioral strategy i have also become familiar with when i worked as a SPED aide at an elementary school.Familiar and actually applied with success are two different things though.I am totally on board with the advice to give choices and provide empathy when bad choices are made.I already see success with lil munchie if i give her two options of what to eat.Then she chooses and actually consumes food.Otherwise I would label her as picky already since she will grit her teeth if i come anywhere near her with something she doesn't want(even if i SAW her eat ten bowls of it before).

Today, I gave Mai a bowl of peas(literally her fave food even over chick fil-a) and soon the whole bowl was on the ground.She proceeded to squish every pea into the ground and between her fingers.I let her have her fun(great sensory experience and it kept her busy so i could fix up the kitchen) and then all i said were the magic words.....Uh Oh.....i didn't say anything else and she started picking the peas up and throwing them in the garbage.i hope in the future i can use this tactic to stop her in her tracks if she ever asks to have a boyfriend..hahaha...

She did have a tantrum though when i did not give her a pen.i just let her scream and kick and went to sit on the couch.i started reading out loud one of her books and when she started to calm down i motioned for her to come read with me...i have found i need to give her space and she HATES if i try offer her other things than what she wanted.it usually riles her up more.plus she has a one track mind...STUBBORN...

This past month we also have seen a LOT of head shaking "NO" from lil girl.Hence the necessity to offer choices...when did your kiddo nod "yes"?...i am eagerly waiting for the day...being told "no" by a 14 mo old can make anyone start to twitch...