Smackdown

Colin and Veronica have very different personalities. You might even call them polar opposites at times. But they have two big things in common: They’re two and they lack impulse control. And right now, that means our house more resembles a boxing ring or wresting match than anything. 

Veronica’s preferred response to anything is to start swinging. Colin still has a more varied repertoire, although I’m grateful that the biting has more or less stopped since the day he bit John. (Veronica was so excited to tell me when I got home that Colin was in time out because he bit Daddy.) We’ve been working hard to eliminate the head butting (it really hurts), and the wrestling Veronica to the ground is slowly giving way to just hitting back, but he is a bit more varied in his venting. 

I’ve also started working on the concept of “sorry,” and have been making the twins apologize to each other if they do something they know they shouldn’t — like stealing a book out of the other’s hands or hitting. 

Colin very clearly understands “sorry” already: A couple of days ago, he smashed into Veronica while she was reading and knocked the book out of her hands. He immediately said sorry and leaned in to kiss her, whereupon she hauled off and smacked him. After braving the flailing arms to separate them (Veronica continuing to hit Colin, who at this point has fallen into her lap from the onslaught; Colin trying to defend himself and get a few jabs in of his own) I had to explain to Veronica that Colin was trying to apologize and hitting him for saying he was sorry was really not the right response. 

Poor Colin, I’m not sure I’ve seen him issue an unprompted apology since then. And really, I can hardly blame him after the response that met his last attempt.