Van Goghing to Her Room

Alex has been a bit punchy recently, what with being sick with a nasty virus that made her sprout random fevers for 10 days straight!!! So I'm willing to give her an ever so tiny pass on things like, say, how many peas she eats before she gets a treat. Or how many times she gets to -try- to kick my butt in Candyland. (I am the Queen of Candyland more than not, as evidenced by her frequent trips to the dark end of the basement to cross her arms and pout.) But when it comes to brother abuse, that's crossing the line.

I appreciate that Gabey likes to wrestle her. He usually loves the attention, at least for a bit. I mean, she's obviously his role model (shudder) right now, so of course, if she wants to harm him bodily while giggling, it's mostly okay by him. But she has this habit of grabbing him the easiest possible way, which for her seems to be by the neck/throat. While mildly amusing to watch because it's so very violently unlike her to be that rough, it's not cool to grab anyone by the neck. Least of all delicate little flowers like Gabey.

So I've been teaching her how to take him by surprise by grabbing him around the torso. Much more effective if a body slam is your goal, and with brothers, it should probably always be the goal, right? She just can't bring herself to do it, though. Her little arm just naturally fits right below his chin. And brother wrestling disengages her ability to hear and think rationally, so she ignores any and all protests. I'll keep working, but for now, lots of time outs have ensued thanks to incorrect wrestling techniques.

We also limit her wrestling time to the amorphous "when Gabey wants to do it" schedule. I know, I know, do they wrestle or don't they? Not when do they, but it brings them so much joy when they're both on board I can't bring myself to entirely eliminate it. It's good for their, um, large motor skills and for practicing cooperation. As in, "Gabey, go this way." Gabey - giggling acknowledgement.

The one thing we do not tolerate around here is biting, no exceptions. Alex has decided that her teeth are her most potent weapon. She uses them at the grocery store when Gabey is "staring" at her, and at home for any occasion. Yesterday, she bit his ear, and promptly went to time out, followed by a finger chomping the likes of which have not been seen in this house since the last time.

Alas, Her Highness has awoken and is crying about the likelihood of there never being pancakes in the known universe again, so I should go. Before she bites me.