Attachment to Objects

[daycarewhisperer]

You are confusing attachment with control. She's a little child. She just needs to know that it's not up to her. She doesn't get to decide.

If a napkin goes on the floor the ADULT knows that it's not sanitary to keep it. The ADULT decides that. She doesn't get an opinion. She's a very young child who couldn't possibly know what is best for her. Allow her the time in life where she doesn't have to know. Release her from her position.

You are adultizing her emotions. She's slick enough to use the highest form of adult words to get you to allow her a position. Saying "love" is the best way to get the adult to allow an opinion and position. If she said "I want to decide" would you be enamored by it? If she says "I love it" then your mommy adult heart believes she loves something as you know "love". She doesn't understand "love" she understands that she can engage and influence with THAT word and THAT behavior.

Give her back her rightful position as a child who doesn't have a "care" about stuff she's too young to understand and has no claim to. If she engages you on something that has no connection to a child's decision then just tell her to "leave it". If she persists tell her "you don't get to decide. I'm the adult and I decide".

Now if you want to have her input then grant her the powers to decide adult things. She will eventually take over things you don't want to grant Ilike the purchase of an expensive item like a car) so it's a slippery slope.