listening skills

The therapist has suggested that maybe it is not just open defiance (although there is also some of that).  Maybe there is an element of auditory processing that is an issue...

I was in the shower this morning when Ladybug came in asking for her toothbrush.  She had a toothbrush in her bathroom she could use.  But she wanted the toothbrush that was still packed from our weekend trip.  I told her it was in the little blue bag in the suitcase.  She trotted off to get it.  She came back saying that it wasn't there.

I know it was there.  I packed it.  I know exactly where it is.  But I am in the shower.  I am not getting out of the shower to get her toothbrush. So I decide to direct her verbally (uh oh)

Mama: The suitcase is right next to the closet door.  Open the big part of the suitcase.  Find the little blue canvas bag.  It is in that.

Simple.  And she must have got it right.  Right?  I mean she didn't come back in to ask more questions. 

So When I got out of the bathroom this is what I found...

The little blue suitcase I had used for this trip was moved out of the way.  The closet door was open.  The big old honking blue suitcase that I never use because I just keep it to store all my other little bags was sitting on the floor open with all the other bags thrown around.

Me: Hey, did you find your toothbrush?
Ladybug: No.  It is not in there so I just used the one at my sink.
Me: Did you look in the this suitcase?
Ladybug: Yes! It is not there!
Me:  Is this the suitcase we took with us this weekend (pointing to the big one)?
Ladybug: No.
Me: Is that the suitcase we took (pointing to the one we took)?
Ladybug: Yes! (exasperated)
Me: Did you look in the suitcase we took?
Ladybug: No!
Me: Why not?
Ladybug: (no answer)
Me: No need to make this more complicated then it really is.  Here (handing her the toothbrush from the suitcase). 

And then I got to clean up the mess.

Mean Mama