Here’s an actual conversation I had with our 3-year-old Friday, transcribed to the best of my recollection:
He: “I want to wear these today.” (grabs a pair of SpongeBob SquarePants flip-flops reappropriated from his older brother, still a few sizes too big for him)
Me: “Let’s not wear those to day care. They keep falling off your feet. Let’s try these.” (grabbing a pair of shoes that actually fit)
He: “Nooooo. I want to wear these.” (gesturing emphatically at the flip-flops)
Me: “But they won’t stay on. You’ve tripped and almost fallen a few times –”
He: “NO-O-O-O-O! I WANT TO WEAR THE-E-E-E-SE!”
(Repeat this dialogue, essentially, 4-5 times)
Me (developing a new strategy): “OK, you can wear the flip-flops until you get to day care, and then we’ll change shoes.”
He (whimpering): “Oh-h-h-kay.”
Fast-forward five minutes, as he’s climbing into his car seat:
He: “Uh-oh! My shoe just fell off!”
Me: “Well, that’s what I said would happen.”
As we’re pulling out of the driveway:
He: “Oh, no! My shoe fell off AGAIN!”
And then …
He: “OK, let me put my other shoes on.”
Me: “Good plan, little man.”
I guess he learned something from that exchange.
And me? I learned to just take a change of shoes and let logic prevail.
That Dad 