Giving dessert to a three-year-old who missed his nap isn't a good idea. Giving a sucker for dessert to a three-year-old who missed his nap really isn't a good idea. Giving a three-year-old, who missed his nap, a sucker for dessert 30 minutes before bedtime is just bad parenting.
As I tried to coerce my over-tired-sugar-shocked son up the stairs to get ready for bed, I was greeted with screams of protest and flailing arms and legs. After warnings, counting and a few more meltdowns, I finally got him upstairs and brushing his teeth. As he was rinsing his mouth, he forgot to drink the rest of the water and instead poured it out. He immediately started crying and apologizing. I gave him another glass of water and after a few minutes of back-rubbing and consoling he was fine.
Next it was time to go potty. He stood on the stool, got his body parts into position and was once again over-come with remorse for having dumped out the water. As the pee started to flow, Elliot started crying "I'm sorry." He was so focused on apologizing that he didn't notice the jet stream that was decorating the wall.
As I told him it was okay and dumping out the water was just an accident, he was still apologizing. As I cleaned him up and told him to wash his hands, he was still apologizing. As I bent over the toilet to wipe pee of the walls and floor, he was still apologizing. As I scrubbed the inside and outside of the toilet, he was still apologizing. As I ushered him to his room, got him into PJs and tucked him into bed, he was still apologizing for dumping out the water.
Don't worry, honey, I've already forgotten all about it.
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