Good

Trying to impress on Gideon that just because a one-in-a-half-year old repeatedly puts things in her mouth despite being told not to, that doesn't make her a bad baby. Trying to explain that there are no bad babies. That all babies put things in their mouths because they don't know better. That he did it when he was a baby. That someday she'll grow up and stop doing it too. I tell him the story about how I once found a nickel in his mouth. Point out that he does naughty things himself sometimes like home vandalism and toilet busting yet he's still good. That everybody does naughty things. Even Mommy. He nods his head in agreement to that statement. Apparently I'm quite naughty.

Yet he still likes me. But he's firm that he doesn't like the baby because she puts things in her mouth. Some babies are bad he tells me like I'm naive and need the world explained. They're not friends anymore. He refuses to play with her. It's causing issues at daycare. I tell him that he's the big boy and he needs to be sweet and good to the baby, even if she doesn't listen and puts things in her mouth. I ask him to tell me some of the good things the baby does. He tells me that she takes a nap after lunch. That's wonderful!, I respond. Does she giggle? Just a little bit. Does she like the same cartoons as you? Yes. Does she like to play with toys? Yes, she puts them in her mouth. She's a bad baby.

I'm failing in my communication.

He's four, I cut him lots of slack. Tell myself that this is an age-appropriate view of the world and his will evolve over time.

And if not, he can always grow up to write poetry reviews for major publications. He's got the declarative statement-making and dismissiveness down pat.