Illogical Parenting Works

As a law graduate, I tend to allocate my attention to my kids using logic. More of my attention goes to my eldest and youngest because they are at developmental stages that require it. Our middle child, however, is at a developmental stage where she does not speak very much and plays well alone. She doesn't get as much attention because she does not seem to need it.

When she dumped out every drink we gave her today and persisted in screaming and yelling, I think she was saying, "Dad, you got it wrong. Give me more attention!" The problem is, her language skills consist of only a few words and a lot of babbling and yelling and I don't know how to communicate with her very well. 

I decided to do something illogical. I babbled and yelled back. She stopped acting up and we both started laughing. By the end of the night, we were best friends.