Conversations with Toddlers

Taking a Bath, or, Getting to the Yes

Me: I know! Let's go splish splash in the tub!
N: No.
Me: Do you want to take a bath?
N: No.
Me: Bubbles in the tub?
N: No tub!
Me: We can play with seahorse and rubber ducky...
N: NO! NOOOO!
Me: Mama is going to run the tub...
..........Tub fills. N is throwing bath toys in and having fun............
Me: Okay! You wanna go in?
N: No.
Me: Socks off?
N: No... uh-huh.
Me: [internally: YES.] Okay. Pants off?
N: Pants off.
.........Yadda, yadda..................
Me: Let's go in the tub!
N: No.
Me: Please go in the tub?
N: NO.
Me: [Sigh.] You want Mama to go in too?
N: YES!

Simple Question, Right?

SuperWHY (TV character): And you! What's your name?
N: NOONIE!
Dad: Uh, what's your name?
N: Noonie.
Dad: Norah.
N: Noonie.
Dad: Norah.
N: Noonie.
Dad: Norah.
N: NOONIE.
Dad: Honey, your name is Norah.
N: NOOOOOOOONEEEEEEEEEE!!!!
Dad: Fine! Noonie. Geez.

Whatcha Wanna Do?

Me: Do you want to play with GoGo?

N: No. 

Me: Do you want to read a book?

N: No. 

Me: Do you want to play cars? 

N: No.

Me: Do you want to color?

N: No.

Me: Do you want to play kitchen?

N: No.

Me: Do you want to watch a cartoon?

N: No. 

Me: Do you want to play outside? 

N: No.

Me: Do you want to dance?

N: No.

Me: Do you want to build a fort?

N: No.

Me: Do you want a spankin'?

N: No.

Me: Do you want some milk?

N: No. 

Me: Do you want a pony? 

N: No.

Me: Do you want a million dollars?

N: No.

Me: Okay. What do you want to do?

N: GoGo!!

Please. Eat. 

Dad: Try some yummy noodles!

N: No. YUCK!

Dad: I give up. Let her have chips.