As if "Please, Mother, stop typing" would be any better

I'm trying to teach Jack the sign for help. I haven't done signing with him, except for a few half-hearted attempts at the high chair. But I'm trying 'help' because I am SICK AND TIRED OF THE WHINING.

He gets stuck in the basket: WHINE!

He can't pull a toy from the shelf: WHINE!

His ball is trapped between the dining room chairs: WHINE!

He can't stuff the little toy people into the little toy bus because he's trying to stuff them in all at the same time: WHINE!

I can't stand it. No, that's not true. Obviously I am standing it. And for the most part I tell myself, "This is what they do. This is what they do. This is what they do." What other way does he have to express frustration? But honestly, sometimes I can't help expressing my own frustration. As in, "DUDE. CALM DOWN. I will get your milk IN A SECOND."

Anyway. Signing is not exactly taking off in the Cheung household. I've tried 'more' and 'all done' and 'cheese' (he likes cheese!) and I have to start with 'please' and 'thank you'. When I sign 'help' he just looks at me like I'm stupid. Signing seems to work really well for some of my friends' babies. Some of my other friends haven't done signing at all, but then again, their kids are talking. Mine? Not so much.

Now he's yelling because he can't put the foam number six back in it's foam frame. SO ANNOYING.

Of course, accompanying the whining is a whole new language of jibber jabber and I will never get tired of listening to jibber jabber. And the noises he makes when he's driving his cars across the floor or when he's singing to himself or when he's making sound effects while I carry him down the stairs.

But this: carries a book up to me PANT PANT PANT WHIIIIIIIIIIIINE. That means "Read this to me NOW!!!!"

And this: sees me even MOVE towards the laptop WAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!

It was fun to have my nephews here and see how they communicate. The older one, obviously, never shuts up. And the younger one isn't talking, but gets his point across with a series of grunts and pointing. I guess we're all different.

Perfectly adorable.

Still adorable.

Seconds before the WHIIIIIIIIIIIINE.

Excuse me while I go put the whiner in his crib for some alone time while I take a breather in the shower.

Comments

[Lisa]

Whining or not, he is CUTE! And I think he's starting to look more like you. It must be frustrating to be a pre-verbal toddler and know exactly what you want but not be able to communicate it. Kind of like being in a foreign country where you don't speak the language and no one understands you either.

[Jen]

I think it is only fair that you get to whine back. :)

[Jess]

Oh my god, the two of them in their little jeans! Whining or not, I NEED ONE.

[Carrie]

Oh, amen, sister. Ethan just started whining for everything this past week and it is SO ANNOYING. We've been working on the sign for drink, and he just stares at me blankly, then points to his sippy cup and whines. And I give him the cup, reinforcing the effectiveness of the whining. Sigh.

At least my parents are coming to visit tonight for a week and I can abdicate all responsibility for the little one to them for a while.

[Emily]

Might I just say, from personal experience, that even if they KNOW the sign for help, it isn't ONE IOTA OF HELPFULNESS to you if you aren't LOOKING at them to see it. Because then they just start screaming for you to look at them signing "help." Just so you know.

God help me, mine's still whining whining whining and not at ALL talking and he'll be two in October. TWO. AND NO TALKING. So irritated about this all over again.

[Spin Mama]

Hi!

I just started blogging, and I link to your blog on mine (I hope that's okay -- is there special etiquette on that?). I wanted to see if have any thoughts/suggestions for my blog since you've been at this longer.

Thanks!

[Spin Mama]

Hi!

I just started blogging, and I link to your blog on mine (I hope that's okay -- is there special etiquette on that?). I wanted to see if have any thoughts/suggestions for my blog since you've been at this longer.

Thanks!

[Spin Mama]

Hi!

I just started blogging, and I link to your blog on mine (I hope that's okay -- is there special etiquette on that?). I wanted to see if have any thoughts/suggestions for my blog since you've been at this longer.

Thanks!

[lindsay]

hehe, like Jess I can't relate to the whining and can only focus on the cuteness that is toddler one piece tank top and shorts. And I like Cousin's little jumper as well..I will force my futuristic children to wear these daily. I too thought perhaps Jackson is looking more like Maggie, but really I have no idea.

[kris]

Hello, been reading your blog for awhile...to see what I'm in for next with my 11 month old ;)
I agree with the above comment, they get really frustrated if they are signing and you are not looking. (Not to mention I feel bad for missing it)
Leah is just now starting to consistently sign 'more' and 'all done' after months of working on it. Luckily 'more' has turned into more of a clapping, so that usually gets my attention. I was considering trying to get a clap in with all the signing...ha, it would probably take me longer to teach her that than it would to teach her to talk!

[Tara]

Ugh, I know. Shea is talking but NOT when it comes to expressing frustration, asking for help, etc. So we still get a LOT of whining over here. What is it with these kids who despise their mothers getting a few quality minutes of computer time? The nerve! (She's busy "coloring" right now, that's how I'm able to sneak in a blog comment)

[Elaine]

My baby can do some signs (and in some cases even SAY the word), but he STILL prefers to whine. And if I dare to refuse his whiny demands until he signs? Then he cries big tears of Frustration and Disdain. I think signing is the equivalent of sex for babies: when they aren't in the mood, they just aren't in the mood. Can't sign now mom, I've got a headache. Whine.

[Kate P]

Man, don't you wish sometimes there was a child mechanic so you could bring him in and say, "My son's gear seems to be stuck in 'frustrated'; can you fix it?"

But don't change a hair on his head--he's way too cute.