*Mommy Morgan raises her hand!*
Yup that’s right sometimes I swear my baby has it out for me. I know she adores me, loves me, finds me fun and entertaining and if something is wrong or she’s super sleepy I am the one she’ll cling to. She knows that I know her best but lately she’s really starting to test the waters. I knew it would happen but I didn’t realize it’d be so soon, heck she just turned five months! She’s still one of the best behaved babies I’ve ever crossed paths with (and no I’m not being biased because I used to work at a daycare and have been babysitting for over 10 years) but damn is she turning into a little firecracker.
First it started with slight “hits” to the face and “kicks” to the throat when I’d bend down and dress her on the bed in which I’d laugh with her, and then the hair pulling began. Helllll no. (Mind you my hairstyle is a bob so there isn’t even much to pull but it still hurts.) For a couple of days I let it slide and that’s when I grabbed her hand or foot away and looked her straight in the eye and said “no” in a firm voice. SHE SCREAMED. Like a blood curdling scream. “Ok child who are you and what have you done with Maxly?” I held her up over my head, looked at her face and said in a calming voice, “Miss Maxly you can’t just do what you want, you can’t just hurt people, you cannot hurt mommy.” She stopped screaming, looked at me and smirked. Oh ok so you do understand English, tone and body language. I’ll remember that. Today she was (fake) crying, no tears and all because I making her do something she didn’t necessarily want to do. I knelt down to her level, looked at her and said with a serious stern voice, “Hey. Maxly. We have no time for this drama. Knock it off, I can tell you’re faking.” Believe it or not once again she stopped. I know she’s a baby but let’s face it people; babies are a lot smarter than you give em’ credit for. They’re feeling out what they can and cannot get away with. She even cackles at me when she does a massive poopy or a blowout. Little shit. Literally. CACKLES. She knows what she’s doing, she knows what she did to me.
I will not raise a bratty child. One who feels entitled, feels she doesn’t have to listen. One who will disrespect her parents or disrespect others. My daughter will not be a mean girl. I know she isn’t even six months but it’s never too early to start teaching your children. If I start now versus when she’s a year a half – it’ll be easier to teach her manners and they’ll stick.
Babies are smarter than we give them credit for. I’m currently teaching my baby the sign for “eat” when it’s time to eat her cereal. I also include the motion with my mouth and a chewing sound. She’s still grasping the hand motion but right around when she’s supposed to get cereal she makes the chewing noise and mouth motion. SMARTY PANTS. She knows what she wants. She remembers what I was doing…what meant cereal time. She’s also learning the sign for “milk” for when it’s time for a bottle. We’re getting there but she’s doing the motion now when it’s time for bed, which means it’s time for a bottle. Babies are wiser than we realize. Their brains are amazing little storage units. Did you know that from birth until the age of five children will retain the same amount of information from the age of five to 18?
I’m not saying treat your baby like a 10 year old but you don’t have to “baby” your baby. They’ll realize that they can walk, or crawl all over you, and they may just turn into a little monster. Who may be cute…but they’ll still be a monster. Stick to your guns and don’t let your baby and/or child personally victimize you like Regina George.
The Word of Mommy Morgan✨🌿 