What "No" really means.

It has become time to institute a time-out policy. Don't laugh (yet), cause Eladia can learn.

So. Eladia kept trying to use the gate at the top of the stairs to pull herself up. This was the one thing I did not want her to use; she still had the futon, sewing table, file cabinet, pack-n-play, drawers, and daddy. However, she had conquered everything else, and really wanted to climb the gate. So, she went for the gate, I said "no," and pulled her away. Went back; "No." Went back; "No," and a 30 second time-out (we went through this twice yesterday). Put her down, went back. "No." She did not go back.

Well she did not head back for a couple of minutes. As she was moving in the general direction of the gate, I got down beside her and said "What ya doin." That made her stop, and slam her arm in frustration.

So, she can learn........

...... but what did she learn. After slapping her arm down, Eladia's hand ended up near a table she is allowed to climb. So, she kept reaching her hand out towards the table while looking at me and never doing anything to move closer (the table was just out of reach). So, I turned my head (as a test)..... she went right for the gate.

So, Eladia has learned that "No" means "Not while daddy is looking."