I want it that way

I tried teaching Ri to close her Funtainer after she had her sips of water from it. Sometimes I see traces of what could be the early onset of the Terrible Two’s but then quickly pacify myself with unrealistic self-conversation like.

‘ How could something that looks and smiles like an angel be capable of cunningly planning this high-shrieking till she gets what she wants’? Nah…..
or
‘ How can I expect my baby to understand instructions and discipline at 16 months when I have not understood it in 357’.

I went all Montessori mom on her, gentle and instructional, teaching her step by step the many hazards of keeping the Funtainer’s cap open. Well, she did look bored when I tried to explain that germs would touch the bottle’s straw so I tried a different approach.

Me2Ri: Ri cap moodu (close in Tamizh)   

Me (to myself) – What if she only learns to understand instructions in Tamizh?

Me2Ri: Ri close the cap

Me (to myself) – Maybe I need to associate the instruction with a sound. Hmmm

Me2Ri: Ri bottle a ‘top’ pannu (do in Tamizh)
* top – closing sound of the bottle cap.

Me (to myself): Ok…… That was Tanglish accompanied by sound.

None of the above had the desired effect. Not only did Ri do the opposite of what I was asking her to do, purposely opening the bottle everytime I taught her to close it, she kept hitting her head everytime I said ‘top’. Followed by a teeny tantrum where she insisted that the Funtainer’s cap remain open. More teaching lead to tears and Montessori mom had to make do with watching Ri playing with open dripping Funtainer where she banged it like cymbals against an empty stainless steel tumbler.

P.S : I love Blogger Stats. This week, I have 1 page-view from Japan and 6 from Iran.
Not that I don’t love you readers from India, United States and the other lovely countries in the world. But, Japan and Iran were exciting.

Konnichiwa my dear Japanese page-viewer. And to my fans in Iran, Chetori.

Blog Title: I want it that way – Backstreet Boys