I think Eleanor has gone too long as an only child. She seems to think that she is an equal to Mom & Dad. And possibly even the boss of this house. I think a sibling is what she needs to understand that everything isn’t up to her alone. It’s not a bad thing necessarily.  I’m glad that she is not shy around other adults and always stands up for herself against other kids. She’s a very social and fearless little girl anyway, but I think it also has to do with how we treat her.

We do our best to treat her as respectfully as we want her to treat us or anyone else. We ask her “please” and tell her “thank you.” We rarely command her to do anything, unless it’s punishment. We always try to ask her nicely to do things we want her to do (while letting her know that what we’re asking isn’t optional). We also let her have a say in what activities we are going to do and some other family decisions. But we might be a little too deferential to her wishes. Josh and I are, after all, the more flexible ones and we prefer to avoid a conflict and ensuing meltdown. And we do want her to understand that her wishes and feelings matter. Just because she’s a child doesn’t mean that she can’t have any control over her life.

BUT then again, she does need to learn to be flexible with others and respectful of what they want. We should probably be doing a little more to give her chances to learn that lesson. I think a sibling is just what she needs to teach her that. Well, we’re working on it.

In the meantime, we can enjoy the hilarity that is Eleanor, the little Mama dishing out praise and punishment. “Good job Daddy! You cooked a great dinner! Good work!” “Mama if you yell, you are going to have to go on a time out and then you can’t have any treats!” It’s about the funniest thing you’ve ever heard. The best one so far, “Mama if you don’t get me a snack right now, you and Daddy can’t live here anymore! You will have to move out!”