Critter Conversation #17

The Scene:  I've woken Bug up from his nap in order to pick Bear up from school.  He's still somewhat sleepy, though happy to be going to get his "stister from school".  He has walked up the front steps to our parking spot himself because "I do it myself!", but I open his car door and put him in his carseat, snapping the buckles in place.  He wiggles and gets angry, raises his fist then lowers it again.

Bug:  "Mommy, I want to hit you."

Heather: "You want to hit me?  Why?  Are you angry with Mommy?"

Bug: "Yes.  I wan' do buckle myself!"

Heather:  "You're frustrated with Mommy.  Is that why you want to hit me?"

Bug:  "Yes."

Heather:  "Is it nice to hit Mommy?"  Bug shakes his head no.  "Do you think it would hurt Mommy?" 

Bug:  "Yes."

Heather:  "Thank you for not hitting Mommy when you're frustrated with me.  Can you say frustrated?"  He repeats it fairly accurately.  "When you're frustrated with Mommy, tell me, 'Mommy, I want to do it myself, please'.  Okay?"

Bug:  "Okay Mommy.  Let's go get my stister now!"