1, 2 ... 3

I don't have many tricks in my 'How To Get Your Toddler To Behave' bag, just 3: 

- Yelling
- Screaming
- Bribing.

However, I've just discovered a new one ... "Counting to 3"

Seriously - who would have thought this works, but it really does. 

Example:

Kalani drops his bowl of crackers all over the floor.

Me: Kalani please pick up your crackers.

Kalani: *blank stare*

Me: Kalani, PLEASE pick up your crackers from the floor.  They're going to make a massive mess and then I'm going to go crazy.

Kalani: *starts to walk away*

Me: Okay, I'm going to count to 3 and then ... *meaningful look*

Me: 1

Kalani: *looks a little worried*

Me: 2

Kalani: *quickly starts picking up the crackers*

Me: Thank you *whew*

Now I don't really know what happens if I get to 3.  My backup plan is to drink a glass of wine very quickly, take some deep breaths and then pick up the crackers myself while cursing the bloody mindedness of toddlers under my breath.  I wonder what Kalani thinks would happen though.  Toddlers have pretty crazy imaginations, so perhaps he thinks that a dinosaur will appear from the fridge and eat his toes.

Hopefully it won't give him nightmares.

Whatever.  It works.

For now ...

Recharging

Kalani and Dan are upstairs having a nap, and I'm downstairs, sitting on the couch with a cup of tea.  It's quiet and peaceful, and even though I'm surrounded by laundry that needs folding, groceries that need to be put away and a toy explosion, I'm not moving.  I'm retreating into myself for a few minutes and enjoying just being.  

This kind of thing doesn't happen very often, does it?  The opportunity to just sit and be.  It's nothing to do with your situation - no children, or 3 children.  Full-time worker or student with an evening job.  Retired grandparents or studying teenager.   Whatever your life is like, it's always full and busy and there's not that many times in a week, let alone a day, that you get to just sit.

So that's what I've been doing.  Liffey meditation.  No list-making or planning what's going to happen next in the day.  Just nothing.  And it's lovely.

For a little while.

And now I can hear some stirrings from upstairs.  A rustle and a thump as Kalani climbs out of bed, up and ready to play.  And I'm glad to end my alone time and get back into the bustle and chaos of Life.  Recharged and content.

Happy weekend peeps.