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May 17, 2008
Want/Need/Would Like
Two of the most common statements in our house these days by our 2 year old:
"I want __________"
"I need __________"
Wow. I never thought twice about asking her "What do you want?" or "What do you need?" I didn't realize how many times adults ask kids what they want/need. So when they answer you with "I want/need" they are only answering the question that was asked to them. However, at our house, we are working with Belle on being more cheerful and polite when asking for something. I think she says "I want/need _____" about 50 times a day and those 50 times a day I'm saying back to her something like: "Belle, please do not say want, you may say 'I would like' ____" and she corrects her statement and we move on. Now the first few days it wasn't a huge deal- but we are weeks, no probably months into this and still I feel like I"m helping her have a cheerful heart each time she asks for something. It is amazing to me how much of parenting is repetition. And I'm wondering if she will "get it" some day. I think God gives us glimmers of light in the dark to keep us going because this week Belle and I were driving home and she was talking about how she wanted to play outside with her daddy when he got home. I told her that she could ask daddy nicely and maybe after dinner they could play outside for a while. She then said "I no say I WANT daddy to play outside with me.... I say I LIKE daddy to play outside with me!"
WOO HOOO! That made my afternoon! I would like to say that she has got it- but still every day, several times a day we are working on a cheerful heart when she needs to ask for something. But still, it was encouraging and I'm confident things will click one day. And maybe, just maybe, it might be once she has kids of her own! :)
Posted by Leah at May 17, 2008 09:31 AM
Comments
If I had a dollar for every time I asked Madeline to repeat something more politely or more respectfully, I would be rich! :-)
Madeline has a habit of just announcing her need, (i.e. "I'm thirsty") and then just standing there waiting for me to respond to her statement. I've gotten to the point where if she asks too rudely, and phrases it as a demand (i.e. "Give me a drink" or "I need a drink right now"). I make her wait five minutes and ask me again. I think it's helping her be a little more polite...
So, it's a battle we're in as parents for a long time, I guess.
Posted by: Kirsten at May 20, 2008 04:27 PM
My sister is working with my 3 yr old niece on politeness also. The other day I was working in Iowa Falls and they met me at Subway for lunch. I asked my niece to take some stuff to the trash and she looked at me and said, "Say please, Aunt Wendy."
It works ... sometimes. ; ))
Posted by: wendy sue at May 21, 2008 07:30 AM
My sister is working with my 3 yr old niece on politeness also. The other day I was working in Iowa Falls and they met me at Subway for lunch. I asked my niece to take some stuff to the trash and she looked at me and said, "Say please, Aunt Wendy."
It works ... sometimes. ; ))
Posted by: wendy sue at May 21, 2008 07:31 AM