The Meaning of No

"Ayden, do you even know what 'no' means?" I ask my defiant thirteen month old daughter. She smiles, lifts her slender index finger at me and moves it to and fro. Yes Mommy she knows what "no " means: it means you shake your finger back and forth and she continues doing what she was doing before you interrupted her. It's another sign, like apple (which she also uses for banana) or water (which she uses for pretty much all foods and drinks except milk).

Oh, Ayden, if you weren't so cute... I'd... I'd... love you still. Lets face it, you're the boss and you now it.