Score One for Mommy

The scene: A glass shower in Eric's and my bathroom.

The players: Eli Wilson, 1 year. Mommy, 28 years.

Eli's side of the story: "I just love to open and slam shut the glass shower door 2,438 times a day, particularly when my mommy is taking a shower. What's so wrong with that?"

Mommy's side of the story: "I can't stand the door being opened and slammed shut 2,438 times while I am in the shower. First of all, it is annoying and makes me cold. Second of all, it gets the wood floors soaking wet. Third of all, I am afraid that one day, after a particularly hard slam, the door will shatter, leaving both me and Eli severely injured."

The battle: Eli goes for the door. Mommy says no and pulls his hand away. Eli goes for the door. Mommy says no and pulls his hand away. Eli goes for the door. Mommy says no and pulls his hand away. Eli goes for the door. Mommy says no and pulls his hand away. Eli goes for the door. Mommy says no and pulls his hand away. Eli goes for the door. Mommy says no and pulls his hand away. Eli goes for the door. Mommy says no and pulls his hand away. Eli goes for the door. Mommy says no and pulls his hand away. Eli goes for the door. Mommy says no and pulls his hand away.

The outcome: Now, after a simple "no," Eli happily walks away from the shower door, never to slam it again.

Eli's final opinion: "I guess I'll give her this one. I'll save the major battles for public places."

Mommy's final opinion: "I won! I won! I won!"

*Seriously though, I am so excited that Eli seems to be getting the hang of the word "no." Even though he really wants to touch whatever it is that he isn't supposed to be touching, he is listening to and obeying me without much of a fuss. I'm thrilled!