So having two experiment subjects so close together, DP being only 17 months older than JR., causes the two to learn from each other and to often do things the other did a year or so later. With three participants, SuperMom and I have to be a team and work together to control the outcome of the experiment as best we can. So very often, one of us will join in to address an issue with the kids while the other is busy. An example might be answering a question or going to the one calling the other parent. DP used to ask SuperMom a simple question, like "Do I need to take a shower?". Since SuperMom might be talking to Lu, I would reply with "Yes". At this point DP would reply "I am not talking to you." To which I replied "Well I am talking to you". Most reading this might think he is being bad, rude, or just a jerk. Not DP. He wouldn't even process the answer I gave. He just knows that He called SuperMom and Physics Dad responded. I know this because I have seen him behave the same way in other manners without processing the reason for the statement. For example, I have given all of my kids nicknames which change over time. Currently, I call DP, "Champ". I used to call him "Crown". Well about the same time as "I am not talking to you", I remember driving in the car with DP in the back talking to me about whatever 5 year old literal genius children talk about. I replied to some statement, by saying "What are you talking about "Bud?". He replied with "Dad my name is DP, not Bud". I replied, "I know your name is DP, I was there when we named you". So I am confident that DP isn't being rude when he replies with these odd statements. Now Jr has gotten to the age where he can have a solid conversation with us. So apparently he learned this "I am not talking to you" reply from DP. Although, I think that Jr does this when he doesn't like the answer he receives. In fact, he has learned who might give him the answer he wants. During our nightly battle to get him to go to bed, he will pop out of the hallway and say "I need to ask Mom a question?". The question is usually 'Can I sleep in your room?". Boy do they learn fast.
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April 2018
CategoriesAuthorPracticing medical physicist trying to raise three kids in the south. |