Stuff My Daughter Says to Torment Me

Daniel Tiger - try to solve the problem yourself

My 3.5 year old daughter is not from this planet. She has mastered the art of flipping teachable moments in the most agonizing but also hilarious ways. Here are some examples.

1. No that’s not what it means.

Premise: we teach our kids to try to solve problems themselves, like the Daniel Tiger episode.

Me (bending down to floor sweeping/sopping up/putting away): “Ziggy this is your mess, you need to help clean it up.”

Ziggy (putting hand gently on my shoulder and speaking with parent-like compassion): “Try to solve your own problems.”

2. No that’s not how it works.

Ziggy: “I can’t do it!”

Me: “You’re very capable, keep trying.”

Later.

Me: “Ziggy I can’t help you right now, I’m busy with chores.”

Ziggy: “You’re very capable.”

3. Wait—how do you even know this?

Me: “Ziggy you need to use manners with your sister.”

Ziggy: “You’re getting too big for your ‘birches’” [sic].