mochimoments.com

• Big Mochi: Mommy, can I eat this candy?
• Me: Uhh, no.  You know the rule, no candy in the morning.  You just had breakfast.

I turn to strap on Baby Mochi’s shoes.  When I turn back, Big Mochi has the box of candy tilted back, pouring Nerds into her mouth.

• Me: Okay, what’s that about?  You know that’ll cost you a Time Out; right?

Big Mochi instantaneously explodes into a very loud wail.  She’s a big 4 1/2 year old girl.  I’m not a very big person.  I cannot physically lift her and put her on the Time Out mat like G can.  So I’m pointing at the mat yelling at her to GO NOW!  She’s flopping on the ground screaming NO!  Baby Mochi stands next to me, careful to look at my stance and models me pointing and yelling GO NOW! TIME OUT!  Since Big Mochi is already ON a mat, I tell her that THAT is her Time Out mat and she is to stay there until the microwave timer runs out.  So she’s sitting there wailing and Baby Mochi is staring at her, then looks up at me and says with worry, “Oh no, *Big Mochi* crying.”  I explain that she’s in time out for not listening to Mommy.  So she stares at her for a few more seconds, then walks over to her, studies her, sits down in the exact same position next to her and wails (without tears) alongside her.  After a minute or so, it gets old and she stands up and comes back to me, hugs my legs, then turns her face up to me, reaches and says, “Up.”  I pick her up and we stand there until the remaining seconds of Big Mochi’s 4-minute time out is up.  By then, Big Mochi has stopped crying and is giggling at Baby Mochi, who is now making fish lips at her (I’m always amazed at how quick Big Mochi’s turnaround is).  Even though she’s over it, I do my part and ask her if she understands why she was put in time out.  She answers Yes, cuz she didn’t listen when I said No Candy.  I said I love her and she said Ya I know, I love you, too.  We hug and that is the end of our drama.  Meanwhile, I check in on Baby Mochi, who managed to voluntarily experience the points of view from both sides of the event.

It’s rough being 4, but man, it must be exhausting to be 2.