As I’ve mentioned a time or two before… I never know what news {or what kind of moods} will await me when I go to pick the girls up from preschool. Yesterday I arrived to see the Preschooler proudly wearing a big “I’m a Super Star” sticker and beaming as she bounced down the ramp to tell me what a good day it had been and what a cool tree she had made out of paper towel rolls. Meanwhile, the Toddler was also quite happy but {once again} wearing the back-up clothes that I send in case she has an accident during the day.
I knew there had to be a story. And, there was.
Teacher: Well, you’ll see she’s wearing her change of clothes.
Me: Yes, I noticed.
Teacher: She peed on herself today. BUT, she did it on purpose.
Me: Oh, dear.
Teacher: Yes, she was playing at the water station by the sink and having a great time. But, when I told her it was time to stop and move to the next activity she didn’t want to quit and she wound up getting her shirt wet. She wanted me to change her shirt, but I wouldn’t do that since she hadn’t followed directions. So… when we went to the rug for circle time she peed on herself and then came to me and said she had peed and needed to be changed. So, then she got to change. She’s very smart like that.
Me: Oh, yes. I know.
This, you see, is what I deal with every day. And, most every night. I’m familiar with this type of behavior. But, that doesn’t mean I understand it.
As a typical firstborn, I’m a pleaser and an approval addict. And, I can see those same tendencies in the Preschooler… not necessarily at home, but certainly with other adults in a setting like school. If, as a child, I had been sent to time-out at school or had an accident on myself, I would have been devastated. I think the Preschooler would feel the same way. But, the Toddler? Not so much. It’s as if she says, “Time-out? It’s totally worth it.”
And, this completely baffles me. Does she not want an “I’m a Super Star” sticker? Is she not embarrassed to have to change her clothes? Does she not want me to get a great report from her teachers every time I pick her up?
I think the answer is: not as much as she wants her way.
Now, I know all about strong wills. I have one. The Preschooler has one. The Toddler certainly has one. I know quite a bit about tempers, too. But, this manipulating your teacher when you’re three years old and doing whatever you want wherever you are and expressing your feelings about everything with total abandonment… I can’t really relate with this.
Oh, well.
For now, there’s no time to dwell on such matters because we’re supposed to be moving in T minus 5 days and I have packed two boxes so far. Duty calls…
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