Reverse Psychology and Four-Square Sandwiches
A few weeks ago, I discovered that Little Miss is at the perfect development stage where reverse psychology will work on her. This was a marvellous discovery!
I came upon it on a hot day when I needed to get her in the stroller quick-smart so I could get to the post office.
“Come on, Raeli, let’s go!”
“No!”
“Into the stroller, come on!”
“No stroller.”
“Please, Raeli, get in the stroller now?”
“No stroller.”
(Note: she is now big enough to struggle when I put her in, enough to make it close to impossible to fasten the straps)
“Fine,” says Mummy, grabbing the nearest soft toy and depositing him inthe stroller. “I’ll take Snoopy instead. Come on, Snoopy.”
The effect was instant and outraged. “Hey, MY stroller!” (Her first three word sentence! So proud)
I removed Snoopy and she happily got into the stroller without screaming - a first for weeks as she now wants to walk everywhere!
it doesn’t always work, but it is a good standby. Yesterday, I made her sandwiches for lunch (squares - I always ask if she wants squares or triangles, and she usually says squares, and sometimes requests the shape rather than the foodstuff - what do you want for a snack? Rectangle!)
Anyway, Little Miss wants to ride the bike outside, so she eats two bites of sandwich and is away. “Outside!”
“Are you finished, Raeli?”
“Yes! Outside!”
“Can Daddy have your sandwiches, then?”
(Daddy looms like a friendly ogre over the sandwiches, smacking his lips)
Shock. Outrage. “No!” Runs back to sandwiches. Eats one bite. “Outside!”
“Finished?”
“Finished. Outside!”
“Can Daddy eat your sandwiches,then?”
“Noooooo!” Runs back to sandwiches. Eats one bite. “Outside!”
Rinse, lather, repeat. At least half a dozen times. It’s a long, slow way to get lunch into a bouncy girl, but it worked. 
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