The "No" Stage

Just about every two year old I have ever met has a serious case of the "No"'s. Everything is answered with "no!", even if it isn't a yes or no question. EVERY two year old.

Except mine.

In the constant obligatory competition between peers of "my kid can do this!" "Oh YEAH?! My kid has been able to do that for six months", Calen has usually been behind. He crawled late, walked late, and has been behind in speech and language comprehension. And even though I couldn't care LESS if your 13 month old can say "watermelon" (seriously why do parents get wrapped up in this whose-kid-can-develop-faster-race??), I could say:

At least MY kid doesn't say "NO" to everything. HA.

In fact, Calen rarely used the word "no" in his second year. Actually, everything was "yes". Even things that shouldn't be "yes" was answered with "yes, okay!". 

Hey Calen, do you want a sandwich? 

"Yes. Okay."

Is there an elephant in your pants?

"Yes. Okay." 


Do you want to go stuff yourself in the oven?


"Yes. Okay."


Which was annoying, but I would take it any day over the obnoxious "no" stage. I thought we were sitting pretty. Here we are less than a week away from Calen turning three (because a date on the calendar makes a difference as far as when stages can start...but I believed it), and we hadn't hit a "no" phase. And then, two days ago, something TERRIBLE happened.


The "No" stage had arrived.

EVERYTHING is No. Even things that he wants are answered with NO. And he KNOWS the difference between yes and no, so there's no excuse. 

And everything is not just a "no", but a whiny, drawn out, obnoxious "NOOOOOOOO!!" that with time could make anyone want to stab a pair of scissors in their ear.


Calen: I want go outside play sandbox.


Me: Okay, let's go get your shoes on and then you can play outside in the sandbox!


Calen: NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!! 


Me: You don't have to wear your shoes you can go barefoot...


Calen: NOOOOOOOOO!!!! No? No sandbox? No? NO!!!!!


Me: ....Okay then you can stay inside and play if you want.


Calen: NOOOO!!!!!!!!!


Me: Well what do you want exactly, Calen?

Calen: (quietly): .....No.

His other variant of "NO" is "I Not!" Which I think means "I will not". Not "I don't want", because he'll say that, but a very defiant "I WILL NOT." Even when it doesn't make sense. 

Me: Wow, cool monster truck buddy. He has awesome green wheels.


Calen: I NOT. 


The monster truck is clearly green. and it's clearly cool. There's nothing to argue about with this.


Four days of this. I think it's here to stay for a while.


If this is the start of the terrible THREES, since we skirted away from the terrible twos, then we are seriously in for it. 

Time to go buy a case of wine. 

NO! I NOT!

 

 









 

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