"Just say no thanks!"

So why is it that kids listen well enough to you to parrot what you say back at you or at other kids, but never manage to incorporate the concepts into their own behaviour? Today Meagan and Bethany were downstairs playing, and Meagan decided to share a ball with Bethany. Bethany didn't want it, so she threw it across the room. Meagan started yelling at her, "Don't throw it, just say 'no thanks'!" That's what I always tell her when she starts throwing food across the table that she doesn't like, instead of just leaving it on her plate. I didn't think I was making an impact, but at least I know she's heard me now. What was even funnier, though, was what she said to Nate. She, Nate and Bethany were in the living room, and Nate was trying to get Bethany to do something, when Meagan piped up, "You're not the mommy!" Meagan's a little bossy, and always tries to tell Bethany what to do.

The dynamics between the two of them are very funny. Even though Meagan is 19 months younger, and considerably shorter at this point, Bethany seems content to follow her lead much of the time. Once, Bethany came crying to me because Meagan told her she couldn't play on the computer, and this was after I'd already told Bethany it was okay. It was hard to not just laugh at Bethany.