The face of opposition

Don't let the adorable little innocent face fool you. Oh no. What you are looking at right now is the most contrary, stubborn little boy on the planet.


It does not matter what I ask Gavin to do or how I ask it. His usual response is "No" or "I don't want to do that" or "No thanks" (at least he is sometimes polite about it). Something as trivial as saying "Hey Gavin, let me put this placemat under your cereal bowl so the milk doesn't get all over the table" is met with "But I don't neeeed a placemat".


Here are other samples from my day:
"OK everyone, let's get our coats on because we are going outside." Ciara and Aidan scamper off to get their coats. Gavin says "Actually, I don't need a coat today".


Aidan: What are we doing today?
Me: Going to get haircuts.
Aidan: Yay!
Gavin: Not me. I don't need a haircut.


"Gavin, please don't stand on the chair like that, you might fall".
"NO, no I won't fall".
Falls seconds later and I must bite my tongue to keep from shouting "Told you so!"

There are a gazillion more examples but you get the general idea. No matter what I say, he must say the opposite. And heaven forbid he actually agree with me on something. You know, maybe it is just a normal thing that every preschooler goes through. I am sure that has something to do with it but I guess it doesn't help that he has a twin brother and little sister who are so compliant. I know you are not supposed to compare children but it is so gosh darn hard!

I ran across a quote once:
Children in a family are like flowers in a bouquet: there's always one determined to face a direction from the way the arranger desires.

That's Gavin. My little flower.