To add to Angie’s earlier post (and somewhat prove her wrong relative to my posting frequency), we tried to mold Mallory’s behavior last week. We talked to different people who all said that if she can get what she wants without talking, then she will. So, we figured that we would be hard-nosed and would just let her cry some until she said “milk” or “eat”. Aren’t we smart?

It was a gruelling two day experiment where we basically played stupid when she screamed for her sippy cup. “What do you want” we would ask. “Do you want milk?” If she could talk I imagine that she would have a few choice words for us. She would scream and when she got to the point that I couldn’t take it anymore, then I’d either give in or pick her up to help her settle down. I did at least try not to give her milk while she was screaming so that the two aren’t associated together. We don’t want to move backwards after all.

An interesting thing occurred though which we later became convinced was related. You see, Tuesday morning was the first morning that we “really” held out. It was also the first morning that she let some boy know how she felt by sending him home with her teeth marks in his arm… all 5 of them. She actually bit her “friend” twice that day, though the second time was lightly we are told. Apparently he tried to bite her back, but she was too fast for him… that’s my girl. Actually I would have no problem with her getting bit back. I hope I’m not a terrible father for saying so, but it might make her think twice about doing it to someone else. While I am happy to know she can take care of herself, I don’t want her to be the class bully.

We chalked that up to a bad day, but the next day she had bitten him again. Now some would argue that he should have learned to stay out of biting reach, but that doesn’t excuse her either. Angie and I were worried that we were at the beginning of a very bad trend. The teachers kept telling us it was normal, and that it’s too early for them to understand things like sharing… but then they sent us home with articles and magazines about how to deal with a “biter”. Just the label we wanted her to have.

I think it was Angie who voiced the thought that maybe we were being too hard on her with the “milk” and “eat” ordeal and ultimately sending her to school ticked off and ready to take it out on someone. So we tested. Thursday morning there were no games. I woke her up, fed her oatmeal, gave her her milk… played a little. No crying… no screaming… all was great. And guess what. No biting.

I guess for the sake of the other children in the classroom, we’ll have to find a better way to encourage her to talk. She is smart though and does understand more than I could imagine at this age. Angie has been teaching her where her nose and ears are which has to be the “cutest” thing… at least until the next cutest thing comes along.