[Herbwifemama]

When dd was around 1ish, or maybe 18 months, I took a tool from my parent's toolbox and changed it around to suit me. I use "1,2,3". Instead of spanking coming after three, which is what my parents did, I just "make it happen" after three. It gives the child a concrete time frame in which to choose to comply or not. And it helped me not lose my patience. She usually does whatever it is by 3, but it's not because she's afraid of me. It's because she knows that whatever I've asked of her is going to happen regardless. Works here. (Though now that she's 4, I'm reconsidering. What will happen sometimes is that she'll either count FOR us, like if we go "One..." She'll go "two three!" and do it. Or she'll just yell, "FINE! I"LL GO DO IT BOOBYHEAD!" Or whatever. That's a new set of issues to address.

Wanted to add that nursing an older child is a whole new thing than nursing a baby. It requires more of the child- your breasts are YOUR breasts, and while you are freely giving to your child, setting some boundaries and learning "nursing manners" is quite age appropriate. Having little patience with nursing at this age I think is biological. Weaning is not too far off.

And secondly, thank you Clara for that explanation. I know I've done all three, sometimes within the same incident. It's helpful to see which ones are not helpful for children, and how to do it "right".