Saturday, October 27, 2007

Unending Battle

a battle of wills -- a situation in which there are two competing people or groups, and both sides are equally determined to get what they want.

Warning: If you engage in the above with a 4-year-old, the experience could last a minimum of 14 years. Be prepared for bouts of screaming and foot stamping, a lack of comprehension despite numerous repetitions of the requirements, and generalized irritation. Strategic maneuvers required include banishment to the bedroom, loss of travel privileges and early retirement. If skirmish escalates, call for reinforcements.

6 comments:

Geohde said...

Sounds like fun.....

Children that are too young to rationalise with but strong willed enough not to give in are a tough nut to crack :)

J

Leah said...

I feel your pain. Each and every day. I had no idea a 3 year old could move from being achingly adorable to certifiably evil in a matter of seconds. Big fun.

Her current state of affairs can be summed up as follows: "I don't know what I want until you do it wrong." Then the screaming and freaking commences. If I take any more deep breaths, I just might hyperventilate.

Anonymous said...

This sounds like my life everyday with the 12 yr olds I have at school!

niobe said...

When I was a four-year-old, anyone who got into a battle of wills with me ended up very, very sorry.

Anonymous said...

One girlfriend said it so well for me about her 4 year old - he issues ultimatums, not realizing that he has no authority or leverage.

I contend that if there is a battle of wills, I'll always win.

Magpie said...

Call for reinforcements, and have another glass of wine.