My sweetheart was off to jury duty the other day and I became responsible for the kids until Grandma picked them up in the afternoon. We had a grand time at playing and I really thought that I had picked up some Dadad brownie points.
As the time was fast approaching, I told the kids that they had to get ready to go with Grandma. Everybody put on their socks and shoes and Kassie grabbed her jacket. I told Kassie that the jacket was too light and we'd be putting on her winter coat.
I'd never seen an 18-month old give a "Hell No!" until that specific moment in time.
While she never specifically uttered the words, her angry screams and refusal to cooperate were very clear. Add that to the fact that she would hold out the other coat to me as a peace offering and an intense look, and the message was clear. "My behavior is tied to the choice in coats. Choose wisely."
Obviously, I discovered that coat choice was an effective behavioral tool. I plan on letting her choose her coat in the future, in exchange for my happiness.