The Human Dynamo

Help me understand how a two and a half year old who eats about two cups of food a day can have so much energy.  Admittedly, when she is tired she says, "I'm going to sleep", and then promptly does so (after tearing around the apartment gathering pillow, doudous and binkie, then leaping into bed).  But when she's awake, she is a whirlwind of action:  coloring madly, singing at the top of her lungs or quietly to herself, splashing and "swimming" in the bathtub, spreading Play-Doh from one end of the living room to the other, cooking dinner on her play stove, with lots of pot banging and food hurling, and generally being enthusiastic in everything she undertakes.

If she's not enthusiastic about something she will let you know in no uncertain terms.  She is not enthusiastic about:  trying new foods, cleaning up any mess she's in the process of making, having her hair brushed, or coming when you call her.  I don't mean to suggest that she's bad; she's just a typical two year old who is trying to learn her place in the world, and to learn how you fit into her world.  In other words, are you Mom and Dad, who make her obey the rules and rarely give in to her caprices, or are you her American Grandma, who might bend the rules and likely will give in if you cry loudly enough?

Juliet's American Grandma just read "Bringing Up Be'be", written by an American mother living in Paris who was totally impressed by French parenting.  After reading the book I am totally impressed with French parenting too, so I don't want to mess up what Matt and Jeanne are trying to do.  This means that I have to make Juliet obey the rules, and give in rarely to her whims.  It's really hard, because she's trying to push the envelope, and I'm trying to have her adore me by letting her do and have whatever she wants.  Of course that's not good for her; I know this.  Kids need discipline and boundaries, so I will give Juliet discipline and boundaries and maybe sometimes an extra chocolate biscuit.  I am the American Grandma, after all!