Discipline at this age can be kinda hazy, because they're simply not old enough to remember what's off limits, or restrain themselves if they do. This is a self-centered age, all about discovery and exploration, and they have no concept of limits, self-control, or other people's feelings. Eva wants to get into anything and everything, and she is not mature enough to learn how to curb her impulses. I'm a firm believer in letting children learn from the natural consequences of their actions, but Eva's still too young to remember what those consequences were and avoid doing it again. For instance, this week she lost her footing while trying to climb the stairs and fell down three of them (thank God they’re carpeted!). Only a few minutes of crying later, she wanted to climb them again and was upset that I wouldn't let her.
They say that you primarily have to distract and redirect a toddler's attention until they're old enough to understand what is and is not acceptable. I use that strategy as much as possible, though sometimes it doesn’t work. When I'm changing her diaper, for instance, she doesn't want the toys I give her to keep her occupied; she wants to get up! And no matter how I try to distract her while loading the dishwasher, nothing is as interesting to her as dirty silverware. I usually try to wait until she's in her highchair or napping, but sometimes when the sink is overflowing, I just need get it done. This week she grabbed a steak knife from the washer and wouldn't let it go, so I finally had to slap her little hand. It didn’t hurt her, but she looked surprised and dropped it. I know a lot of people frown on that, but you gotta do what you gotta do to keep your children safe. That knife would have caused a lot more damage than the temporary discomfort I caused.
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