I like to think I’m helping to teach\u00a0our toddler a few important life lessons.\u00a0 Denial, for instance, can be a useful\u00a0tool.\u00a0 It takes years to learn the nuances, but\u00a0I’m pleased to say I see signs that the three year old is well on her way.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I cite this\u00a0example:\u00a0<\/p>\n
It’s\u00a0a long drive, the 400 mile journey to visit my family.\u00a0 It’s a trip I make every few weeks.\u00a0 After our initial greetings,\u00a0I often like a little quiet time.<\/p>\n
Recently\u00a0I said hello and then, to the jumping, hopping,\u00a0running, climbing little girl, I said\u00a0Hammy is\u00a0tired from the drive.\u00a0 I think I might need a nap.<\/p>\n
The very thought\u00a0mobilized the three year old, who hasn’t napped since she was two.<\/p>\n
“No!”\u00a0 She was adamant.\u00a0 “No nap!”\u00a0<\/p>\n
I reassured her that no one was trying to persuade her<\/strong><\/em> to do such a thing.\u00a0<\/p>\n You don’t have to nap, I said.\u00a0 You can\u00a0play,\u00a0but Hammy is tired.<\/p>\n “Will you read me a story first?”<\/p>\n Okay, one story.\u00a0 I sat down on the couch. Why don’t you go pick a book and bring it to me?<\/p>\n “No, you come too.\u00a0 Please, Hammy.” She skipped ahead of me and tugged at my hand.\u00a0 “Let’s go to my room.”\u00a0<\/p>\n We started down the hall.\u00a0\u00a0Making herself\u00a0perfectly clear, she\u00a0turned back to remind me.\u00a0 “No nap.\u00a0 I not tired.”\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n We knelt by the bookcase.\u00a0\u00a0 I picked the first title I saw, How about ….<\/p>\n But before I could make a suggestion, she had quickly pulled out three different stories that cover similar subject matter – saying goodnight.\u00a0 A couple of the “moon” books and another about tiny creatures in the animal kingdom getting tucked in by\u00a0their parents.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n She plopped the books onto her bed and scrambled up.\u00a0<\/p>\n “Come on\u00a0Hammy,” she said.\u00a0 “Let’s\u00a0read a story on\u00a0my\u00a0bed.”<\/p>\n Okay.<\/p>\n “Lying down.”<\/p>\n Okay.<\/p>\n “With a blanket.”<\/p>\n I’m so proud.\u00a0 She’s already adept at\u00a0denial.\u00a0 Her\u00a0classic I’m-a-big-girl-I-don’t-need-a-nap ploy is proof that my work has not been in vain.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n