Rules and How to Break 'Em

I have a feeling this kind of thing will happen more and more......

Sitting at the dinner table last week with Greg, eating leisurely, I looked over at Landon in his high chair watching us and commented on how nice it is that we now have four hands between the two of us to eat with. We haven't had that in almost 6 months. Landon started fussing (I should just never make comments like that, it seems to rock Landon's boat), and I made THE STATEMENT. "Landon just needs to understand that he is going to sit in his high chair until we are finished with dinner, and if he wants to fuss, fine, but he is going to stay put." I said this very decisively and felt proud of myself for laying down the law, for setting some tableside rules. At just that instant, Landon, with tears flowing by this point, reaches for me for the first time. With both arms. Little red face grubby with remnants of rice cereal and carrots, tears streaming down cheeks, with arms a reachin'.

I threw out my rule, barely 30 seconds old, to pick up my child. Yes, I am a softie. Yes, he is definitely learning how to manipulate me. But he REACHED. And I CAVED.