We have developed a bed time routine of sort for Fuller. It always started with him cleaning up his room, which became a variable in when Fuller actually got to bed.

I decided the other day to switch it up and require Fuller to pick up his room at the end of quiet time. This is usually around 4 p.m. and Fuller isn’t allowed snack, TV, computer, or even playing with Daddy until the room is picked up. Somehow, this doesn’t really phase Fuller and he just tells me “I’m still playing” and goes on making his mess. If he really wants something he will clean up his room. I’m not going to fight with him about it, he just has to do it. Some days he is done in twenty minutes or less. Other days (like today) he just hangs out in his room and plays for two extra hours.

Well, the other day I needed him to clean up his room a little faster because someone was coming over. As I kept reminding him of his task, he came up with a new stall technique- the interrupting phone call.

Fuller has possession of our old cordless phone. Damon actually attached the wall base to Fuller’s bookcase and Fuller enjoys playing with it. Yesterday, Fuller couldn’t keep picking up his room because Vieja was on the phone. Playing along, I told him to politely tell Vieja “Thank you for calling, but I have to clean my room now.” Fuller’s response, “Vieja said no and got mad.”

Of course I giggled at the thought of my mother demanding phone time with Fuller over Fuller actually obeying his own mother. Damon told me later I should have “spoken” with Vieja and explained the situation, but by then the room was clean and we had moved on.

Fuller’s imagination is going full force these days and I hope he starts to harness this power for good and not finding loopholes in obeying his parents.

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