No Means No!

Wonderful.

Oh, WONDERFUL.

Alison now understands how to refuse, abstain, disagree, differ in opinion, take a courageous stand, reject, etc. etc. etc.

She doesn't *say* "no." (Not yet, anyway.) But she shakes her head vigorously. And it's not in response to every question either, and when she does it she gives us an additional clue that she really understands what we're asking her and that she is replying definitively in the negative. Last night, we asked her if she was ready to get out of the tub when she stood up, and she shook her head and promptly sat back down. Ask her if she wants more juice, and she shakes her head and even reaches out to push away her cup if you're holding it. Ask her if she wants to try a bite of something marginally healthy, and she shakes her head and swats her hands near her mouth. You get the idea.

On one hand, this is a good thing, because it helps us figure out what exactly she needs (rather than having to go through the menu of possible needs every time her mood changes). You can just ask her. We've been able to do this for some time anyway, because she's been able to give us a signal to answer "yes" (want a nap? if yes, runs to the gate), but it helps to also know what she doesn't need.

On the other hand...well, it's a sign that soon she will figure out that she has free will. Again, a good thing.

When she's 22.