Time for Time-out

At almost 20 months of age, Miss Kaitlynn Faith has been going through a not-so-fun stage lately. She recently learned the word "No!" and uses it all. the. time. At first it was kind of cute but lately it's becoming a problem. She shakes her head emphatically while spitting out the word "No!" in a very naughty tone.

She also seems to be going through a hitting phase. She doesn't usually strike very hard, but she definitely gives people or things a good slap when she's unhappy about something. She has perfected her scowl, too. Where does this behavior come from? I remember going through a tough phase with Connor at this age but he was never so openly defiant like Kaitlynn.

(Did you just hear that? That was the sound of my parents chuckling loudly as they realize I FINALLY have the child I deserve.)

Anyway, after witnessing Kaitlynn's naughtiness for a while, I decided it was time. Time for time-out. She is old enough to "get it" and her behavior definitely deserves it at times. So last week after one of her many episodes (to put it kindly) I warned her that if she continued then I would put her in time-out. I think at that point she swung back and slapped me. I picked her up and said in a stern voice, "Kaitlynn, you are going to time-out for 1 minute for hitting Mommy and acting naughty." I set her down firmly on a spot on the floor by the fireplace saying again, "Time out."

Cue the red-faced, screaming fit.

Kaitlynn got up to run to me and I placed her back down in time-out. We did this over and over and over again. She was NOT a happy camper and screamed louder each and every time I put her back down. I probably put her back down more than 50 times. She eventually stayed put, and then after a minute or so I walked over to her and asked her to stand up. I told her, "Kaitlynn, you were in time-out because you were very naughty and hit Mommy. Now tell Mommy you're sorry." She said something that in no way resembled "Sorry" but at least it had 2 syllables. Then we hugged and kissed and all was well. For about 2 minutes, and then we had to do it all over again.

Since that first night, Kaitlynn definitely understands what time-out is and when I ask her if she wants to go to time-out, she says (what else?) "No!" Except for one time when she said "Yes" and walked to time-out by herself and sat down calmly. I have no idea what that was about except possibly another show of open defiance. Definitely my child.