That's not for Frankie!

"That's not for Frankie" is all the rage in our house right now. It's the new black.

Frankie is obsessed with the white, rubber things that are on the end of the door stoppers. She loves to take them off and put them in her mouth (yummy!). Sometimes, if I am in close proximity, she will offer it to me like it's a very special present. It isn't and I don't want it. I want it where it was--on the end of door stopper.

I realized "Frankie, NO" wasn't doing the trick after hearing myself say it ad nauseum in every room in the house with a door or closet, so I enlisted the help of my friend, Sharon, one of my favorite moms, who gave me a hopeful alternative. She told me to say "That's not for Frankie" in a voice that sounds like "Oops, I know you didn't mean to do that, sweetie!" whenever she gets into something she shouldn't. (That is pretty much everything, all the time). From there I am supposed to direct her towards something else to play with. When there is a viable option in the vicinity, it actually works. Fickle Frankie forgets all about trying to pry off the inexplicably attractive rubber door stopper and instead finds instant happiness with her new (and improved) activity. Unfortunately, there aren't a lot of rockin' fun options available at the back of the door so most of the time I am left with taking the rubber thing away and saying (in a voice dripping with saccarine) "That's not for Frankie."

Admittedly, after the 25th time, the inflection in my voice does tend to go from the sweet "Oopsie, I know that's not what you meant to do, honey" voice to a tone more representative of "What is your deal??? You have a million fun things to play with--what is your bizarro fascination with the rubber thing at the end of the door? Ugh...enough!"

I'm sure if I took a moment to reflect, I would consider myself lucky that her only current obsession is with rubber door stoppers. Once she can reach the lint filter on the dryer...she'll probably never want to leave the house.