self medicating 2 year old

I hear Jane gagging, which is a clear indicator that she is playing with Gavin. Sure enough there he is shoving a medicine dropper down her throat. Is that the medicine dropper of the special prescription cough medicine for the twins that I opened just this morning? Closer inspection. It sure is..."GAVIN!" I notice as he runs away that he leaves a sticky patch where he touched my bed...and he has a dark patch on his shirt right under his chin. Where is that bottle of medicine!?! Oh here it is, and it...is...completely empty...grrrr, "GAVIN!" I hear the front door slam as he makes a hasty bid for sanctuary at Grandma's house. That ain't gonna help buddy. I follow him and collar him just as he is trying to get Grandma's attention, presumably to help rescue him from me. I sit down with him and explain that drinking someone else's medicine is wrong. That taking any medicine that mommy hasn't given you is wrong. That hiding from mommy when you have done any of the above is wrong. He is unrepentant, and laughs the whole time I am talking and all through time out. Time for more drastic measures...Oh Gavin, this is going to hurt me worse than you...out comes the apple cider vinager. This is a lesson you need to remember! When you take medicine that doesn't belong to you the consequences are yucky. Down goes 1/2 teaspoons of apple cider vinager...he isn't laughing anymore but sobbing and gagging and burping up the smell of dyeing easter eggs. Poor little boy! After he calms down he is incredibly mellow the rest of the evening...whether it be because he is properly chastened and repentant(ha!)...or the fact that the medicine he took was almost pure DM (dextromethorphan) and he is a little drunk!

Other lessons learned by Gavin recently. Don't touch the stove. Ask mommy before you go down the road to your friend's house. Instant mandatory nap time ensues if you poop on the floor.