Yesterday I managed a new major milestone as a parent.  Benjamin came up to me with his mischievous grin on, and I knew something was up.  He looked me right in the eye and said, “Mommy . . . you’re poop!”  (Oh, my charming child.  I am very glad you are learning to play well with others, and to speak a little German, in school.  I am not so happy about this other stuff.)

And that’s when it happened.  I gave him “the look”.  The look that says, “Child, do you want to rethink that thing you just did or said?  Like RIGHT NOW?”  And . . . it worked!  It’s never worked before.  Usually, he just looks back and me and says, “What?” because he *knows* what the look is for, but he doesn’t feel compelled to heed it.  This time he looked back and me for about 15 seconds and said, “Mom, I’m never going to say that again”.  To which I replied, “I think that’s a great idea.”

That was awesome.  No yelling.  No time out.  Not even any words.  Just “the look”.  I have years to perfect it, but I’m pretty excited that it’s already effective.  I feel like I just developed mommy super powers.  (Actually, I think maybe I did.)