Zoë is fascinated and completed concerned with rules. She is always asking to make sure something is okay, “Mom can I talk with gum in my mouth?” I say “yes.” Then immediately she must ask the same question of her dad and sometimes Noah if it appears he might be an authority on the activity in question. Zoë certainly has a very white and black view of the world of rules and how they operate. Here are a few of her favorites that I am finding I must abide by or experience the wrath of the two-year-old.

1. You can’t kiss food in your mouth
2. You can’t talk with food in your mouth (often said with food in her mouth)
3. You can’t put that in your mouth–said when I hold my keys, hair tie, phone, etc in my mouth.
4. Don’t snap when you drive, it’s dangerous
5. You can’t eat when you drive, it’s dangerous
6. You can’t leave your shoes in the living room
7. You can’t do that, this or the other thing

But my all time favorite two-year-old rule is…

You can’t talk to me when i’m pooping (often said in ALL CAPS).