Hall Monitor and Mr. Hyde

Being two has certainly brought out opposing sides of Solvi’s personality. At times she’s her (here-to-fore) usual angelic self. This side is really evident at times like music class. There she sits among to whirling dervishes of the boys in class, fully engaged, singing the songs, following the every move and obeying the every command of the instructor. You know, the ultimate teacher’s pet. After each activity, when it’s time to clean up, Solvi is front and center, picking up the most toys, reminding the boys that it’s time to clean up, and offering “helpful” reminders (read grabbing the toys out of their hands to put them away) should they refuse to comply. I call this her “Hall Monitor” side.

On the other hand, with the zeal of frat boy given license to party on a spring break, Solvi has fully embraced the concept of the terrible two’s. Food is thrown at the table. She refuses to stay seated. She hits, she spits when she’s mad. She even throws sand at other kids just to try it out. Reports from the park often go something like this: “Mom, Solvi got 6 time outs. I only got 1!” (That's Oliver doing the reporting, of course.) But true to her generally sanguine nature, Solvi doesn’t really mind time outs. She just sits there quietly until "time in." And in Solvi’s defense, it really does feel like she’s just trying out this testing of limits thing. I don’t think she’ll continue to be a challenge. We’ll see...

But a strange thing has happened as a result of Solvi’s defiance. Oliver is now often great! My kid who has an Ed plan for his issues with “impulse control” is now comparatively “good” and “controlled!!” Taking after the the kids in his new favorite Berenstain Bears manners book, Oliver is sometimes quick to obey with an “of course.” And if you bump into him and then apologize he may even surprise you with a magnanimous, “No matter.” Pleased with his new status as “sometimes the good one”, Oliver now sometimes takes on the role of Hall Monitor, telling on Solvi for her every transgression. Of the two however, he continues to be more sensitive. Here’s one of my favorite recent exchanges:

Oliver, who was mad for some reason: “Solvi, you’re stupid.”

Solvi, nonchalante: “I not tupid.”

Olie: “Yeh, you’re STUpid!”

Solvi still unphased: “I not tupid, your tupid.”

Oliver: “Waaaaaaaa! Solvi called me Stupid!”