Pay Off

Robbie was a quite a stinker most of the weekend so I was a bit worried about how he'd do his first day at a new sitter. This is his first real "day care" type of environment since he's only been to sitters that watch one or two kids. Now he's going to an in-home preschool/daycare with four toddlers.

When I picked him up he appeared to be having the time of his life. He came running to do the door and dragged me into the house "mommy come HERE!" and brought me in to watch him play.

In the car on the way home he became very quite. I was trying to ask him leading questions to get him to talk about his day but he wouldn't really bite. When I kept asking what he did that day he just kept saying he had a sucker. If I asked if he had fun he just said "yes" but didn't elaborate.

Finally I asked "who is your favorite friend there?"

He looked at me with a serious expression for a moment, then broke out in a huge grin and said "Mommy's my favorite friend!"

I realize I'm supposed to be the adult here - but that was all the positive reinforcement I needed to spend hours thinking up newer, funner activities we can do together.

If he had any idea how far a little praise goes with his parents he could manipulate to an even more extreme degree than he already does. And that is saying something!