How (Not) To Parent

This is a don’t do what I did post.

So I have a bad habit of cajoling my two year old to eat by saying things like, “Oh, you won’t like that. Don’t you dare eat it.”

And (with a big smile) he eats it.

And this worked well for several months.

But now we have the following problem which if I had spent one second thinking about this strategy would have been evident:

Me: Don’t jump off that deck, its too high!
2yrold: (Big smile… jumps).

Me: Put that fork down! Don’t stab your brother!
2yrold: (Big smile… stabs).

See a pattern?

I have.