BACKTRACKING

On Turning Two

by Terry & Louise Hogan

We've all heard all the sayings about the advantages of being grandparents over being parents. Most of them are true. The following conversation was heard by my wife and was jotted down. It is an exchange between our younger daughter and our granddaughter, Avery, who just turned two years old. Avery's brother is four.

"Avery, you do not hit your brother! Go to the time out chair. Avery, stop rocking. You are in time out. Avery, are you going to tell your brother you are sorry and give him a hug?"

"No."

"Avery, the correct answer is 'yes'. Are you going to give your brother a hug and tell him you are sorry?"

"No."

"Avery, the answer is yes. You are going to sit there until you are ready to apologize to your brother." (A few minutes pass.) "Avery, do you know why you are in time out?"

"Yesh"

"Why?"

"Yesh."

"You are in time out because you hit your brother. Are you going to hit your brother again?"

"Yesh."

"No! You are not going to hit your brother. That is why you are in time out. Now, are you going to hit your brother?"

"Yesh."

"No, Avery. The correct answer is 'No.' You are not going to hit your brother."

"No."

"Okay Avery, you can get off the chair. Go give your brother a hug and tell him you are sorry."

Avery! Do not bite your brother! Get back in the time out chair!"

11-22-04