first fight

more of a clash of priorities would be a better way to describe it. last nite for the first time percy wilfully and gleefully thwarted me. sure, we've been at cross purposes before- when to leave the park, what to eat for dinner (whether to eat at all!), to wear or not to wear a nappy and innumerable other instances. last nite's incident was something a little more...

it was time to pack away the toys to prepare for a bath. we keep percy's lego in a big bag that has velcro strips on two sides that allow the bag to unfold down to a flat play mat. i was sticking the velcro together to make the bag and asking percy to help put the lego inside. instead she delighted in pulling the velcro apart resulting in the lego spilling out again. i asked her seven times not to do that and explained that it was bath time so we must pack away the toys to have some space for drying off and getting into jamies. she persisted, laughing the whole time. in response i picked her up, plonking her on the change mat (which you'll recall is on the floor) saying she was not helping and must stay there until i tell her she can get up. this just increased the hilarity! she was off the mat, across the floor and peeling the velcro before i could turn around. repeated replacements on the mat just made her laugh more. and i mean really laugh, she was cracking up in a way i've only heard her do when she is having the best fun, bar nothing. clearly my parenting techniques (make it up as i go) weren't up to this challenge. paul eventually came upstairs and held her while i finished the packing away. then i sat in front of her, holding her shoulders and explained again what i was unhappy about. i know she understood me. i asked her to say sorry to me to which she found many reasons not to; a book not packed away, a CD cover to open, pi coming into the room... she did eventually say 'sorry' tho i think she did not mean it. it was delivered in a loud, abrupt voice; as if she was acknowledging what i wanted and complying, but only for the sake of getting rid of me. i don't think she felt at all contrite.
we had a big hug and then got on with the evening ritual as per normal.

paul and i had a talk later about what happened and whether i was just after restorative justice from a toddler or whether this was laying the ground work for future tasks to be undertaken with mutual compliance for mutual benefit, ie. if we both pack away the toys it will go quicker and we can have a nice bath sooner.
not sure yet....

percy turns two tomorrow! is this our welcome to the terrible two's? ha ha ha