After dinner my two year old was a mess. There was strawberry shortcake all over Penny’s cheeks and chicken enchilada gumming up her fingers. I told her to come with me to wash up but she ran to her room and hid. We have a rule that she can’t play until after washing up and so I carried her to Time Out.

As soon as I set her down in the corner she looked up at me sweetly.

“I have a great idea, Mom!”
“What’s that?”
“I’m not going to be naughty, I’m not going to hit. I’m going to be gentle with Charlotte, I’m not going to touch the t.v., I’m not going to be fussy…”

And on and on she went, laundry listing all the simple rules we have outlined for her in our home. Finally she finished and said, “those are my ideas.”

“I like those ideas, honey!” I said. “Let’s go wash up now.” I let her out of Time Out but she ran as fast as she could back into her bedroom and hid.

“I thought you weren’t going to be naughty anymore? Now we have to go back to Time Out.” I picked her up and brought her back to Time Out. I set her down and she slumped dejectedly in the corner.

With head hung, she said, “I don’t have any more ideas, Mommy.”

What was it about the “best laid plans of mice and men…”?  Let’s give the poor girl an A for Effort.