When Marta was born, she really was something of an empty slate. She looked up at me with the most innocent, awestruck eyes. The first glimpse of her new world. But her term of unworldlyness vanished fast. She's just as likely as me to crawl up on the couch these days, settle down with a piece of bread and some milk and yell "please" at me every time I might distract her from watching the 'train movie' or the 'monkey movie.'
How did my daughter get such an attitude? I think she may have learned it from me. I may be responsible. Because I don't know how to handle a temper tantrum other than making a joke out of it. And because I don't know how to 'discipline' her. There have been a few times that she has slapped me in the face and it has hurt, but I don't know how to make her understand that I am not kidding. She thinks her issi is just one big jokester. I could try and physically tell her no, but I can't hurt her. So it seems like I am playing. And because I am a pretty sarcastic dad, even my serious tones seem like a joke.
And I am the one that has taught her all of her English swear words, including the 's' word and the 'f' word. I never thought I'd be such a bad influence. She is also pretty bossy. She doesn't ask for milk. She demands it. 'I want milk. I want it.' And she won't give up until she gets it. She is the boss. And if she doesn't want to take a bath or go to sleep. Well, she doesn't take a bath or go to sleep. This can't all be my influence. Marta is also the eldest sibling and I think in this manner she has one other big influence. Her mother (she's the boss in the center).
6 comments:
Marts is the eldest sibling?
Last time I checked she was still the only child ;)
She is the founder sibling. Others will follow.
Hm, good dialogue
Epp: Marta, the eldest sibling?
Justin: Others will follow
Nay, I don't think Marta is very bossy. I suppose (but it's a theory, I have not seen her with my own eyes) she can't be very bossy beiing the sibling such a parents.
Point is, little ones don't know very much about intonation of speech, about differences how you can ask, say yes, say no.
Really, if I watch the photos, I dont think she's bossy.
She is just a happy person, fulfilling of needs is just a very simple thing for her.
S* and f* words, ok, little bit too early. But I taught to our son Joonas (13) many long and rude folksongs last summer.
a la
Vitud jooksid mööda katust
pidasid väikse munni matust
Why
He must know all the richness of human language, and he also knows where and when to use them.
So simple it is. For me of course.
It's my personal point of wiev
Marta will be the oldest child... She is the daughter of an oldest child and the granddaughter of an oldest child and in some ways you too, Justin are an "oldest" child.
Teaching her the words please and thank you would help her soften that bossy tone. It will make her strong personality a bit more acceptable to those non-family members who might view her style with much less affection then
the family who are
totally captivated by her brains, beauty and charm.
Speaking for myself, even "bossy"
people do better with good manners...
Love you Miss Marta
..your 1st born "bossy" Mimi
We too hoped that teaching the polite words to our child would soften the bossy tone - "daddy WILL stand up, daddy WILL sit down, daddy will sit down NOW" sound even bossier in Estonian than in English. But it did not! An impolite harsh order is actually much easier to decline than a "soft" "daddy please stand up, daddy please PLEASE PLEAZZZEEEE!!!" So now she sounds politer but is, actually, even bossier.
Thank you child in law for the Estonian lesson..
Post a Comment