The Hard Way

Today I was reminded of the questionable choices my oldest decides to make.  We work hard in our house to always offer choices.  Whether it be between shirts, scheduling options,  yogurt flavours or my husband's favourite " the easy way or the hard way".

Usually this method works fairly well in our house and I like to think prevents a tantrum or two.  I figure that if they buy into the options they are less likely to just say no and by us offering the choices we approve of  in theory, should prove for less arguments.

Apparently these options get a little old for their liking and the threat of the hard way is not great enough...

One day our two were playing outside.  In our yard we have a play set with swings and a slide.  At the time the set was new and it was hard to pry them away from the set when it was time to go inside. 

Our oldest was up on the top of the set pretending to be a pirate and hunt for treasure.  My husband gave her our usual ten minute warning (thankfully, the concept of time is lost on her so ten minutes could be two or twenty).  She accepted the warning and continued to play.

A little while after he informed her that it was time to go inside.  She pushed herself into the farthest corner of her play set and looked down at my husband with a defiant look on her face.  Before he could offer her any choices she looked at him and said "I choose the hard way".

He climbed up the play set grabbed her kicking and screaming and carried her inside under his arm. Today a year later we had a similar episode in which she again chose the hard way.  I am reminded once again how much they have grown and yet that they are still learning.

Hopefully she starts to chose the easy way soon because she is getting heavy.