Kellie wasn't sure why, but she found herself constantly annoyed by her little sister's "babyish" behavior. At first, she tried to be attentive, just like her older sister, Lindsey, always was with her. After a while, see found herself too impatient, and the result was that Kellie often found herself accused of teasing even though that was not what she meant to do. Her sister, Sarah, was only 8, so she wasn't sure what she expected. Still, at 12, she considered herself to be a grown-up already, and she just couldn't understand why Sarah had to whine and carry on so much. Lindsey, at 15, was always nice, but she had always been that way. It was like it was her nature to be understanding of other's feelings-especially when it came kids. Lindsey was already the star babysitter of the neighborhood because of this, and Kellie wished she could be more like her sister, but she just couldn't seem to make it happen.

One afternoon, Kellie entered the kitchen and found Sarah enjoying a cup of juice and some cookies. "You better be careful, Sarah. Mom won't like it if you make a mess." Sarah responded, "I always careful." And, then she promptly spilled her juice. "Gosh, you are such a baby!" Kellie sighed. "Pretty soon mom is going to make to drink from a bottle like a baby so you won't spill everything." Hearing the commotion, Kellie's mom left what she was doing and entered the kitchen and asked: "what happened, Sarah? Did you spill your juice?" "Yes mommy. I'm sorry," Sarah said. "Please don't make me have a bottle. I will be more careful next time." Looking puzzled, mom asked: "what? Where did that come from?" "Kellie said you were going to make me have a bottle like a baby because I spilled. I'll be more careful, mommy, I promise."

With that mom shot a stern look at Kellie, and without saying a word, let Kellie know that she was in trouble again. "Sarah, sweetie, you are not a baby, and mommy is not going to treat you like one. Accidents happen. Don't pay attention to your sister. She isn't being nice, and one of these days she is going to find out that I've had enough of her teasing" "But mom," Kellie said, "if she would just be more careful." "Stop it now! We will have a family meeting tonight to discuss this, but for now just leave Sarah alone, Kellie." Mom said sternly. Feeling dejected, and feeling that once again Sarah had gotten away with something, Kellie went to her room, and turned on some music.

At dinner, mom asked the girls to help her clean up quickly, because she wanted to have a family meeting. Lindsey glanced questioningly at Kellie searching for a hint as to what this was about, but Kellie just shrugged her shoulders in a silent "don't ask me." Once every thing was clean up and the dishes put away, mom asked them all to sit down and then started: "I think that if we all helped each other a little more like we just did, we would all be happier. Don't you think so, Kellie?" Looking at Sarah, Kellie said: "if she would just stop acting like such a baby, then." Quickly, mom cut in: "that is exactly what I mean, Kellie. There is no reason to talk like that. Sarah is only 8, and you can't expect her to do things like you do. Accidents happen, and there is no reason to belittle her when they do." "But, mom." Kellie tried to start. "No buts, Kellie. I've had enough of this! It is going to stop right now! Listen carefully, young lady, if I see even one more incident like what happened earlier today in the next 24 hours, there will be consequences. That's all girls, tomorrow is the last day of school. Let's all turn in early, so we can get a fresh start tomorrow."

The next morning, Lindsey tried to talk to her sister: "Kellie, just take it easy today, all right? Mom was pretty upset, and it would be good not to push her. Let me help, OK? I will watch Sarah all day today." "OK, thanks Lindsey," Kellie replied. A few minutes later, Kellie was in the bathroom brushing here teeth when Sarah walked in. "Sarah, why aren't you dressed yet? Does someone have to dress you too! Geez, you are such a baby!" At that, Sarah started crying and left the room. Soon after, mom appeared at the door. "Couldn't you even make it 24 hours? You know, I think the only baby here is you, and maybe if you got a taste of what you keep teasing your sister with, you would realize that it's not very fun." "But, mom, she wasn't." Kellie tried to respond. "Forget it, Kellie. I'm not going to argue with you any more. You are to come right home after school, and we will deal with this then."

The last day of her first year in middle school should have been fun. Instead, Kellie couldn't keep her mind on what her mom said. "Why can't I just keep it to myself and leave Sarah alone?" she asked herself. After school, Lindsey met her to walk home with her. On the way home, Kellie said to Lindsey, "I guess I really blew it this morning huh?" "Don't worry about it, Kel," Lindsey said, "mom will be OK. Just lay low for the rest of the day, OK? And, like I said, let me handle Sarah and everything will be fine."

As they walked into the house, both girls looked at each other in surprise as they noticed a playpen in the living room. There was a pink baby blanket handing on the side, and several infant toys inside. As they walked into the kitchen to get a soda, they also spotted a high chair, several jars of baby food on the counter, and bottles of formula and juice in the refrigerator. "What's going on?" Kellie asked. "I don't know. Maybe mom got me a babysitting job for the Summer," Lindsey responded. "Girls, is that you?" they heard mom ask from the bedroom. "Yes, mom", they both replied. "Please don't get anything to drink yet," mom continued. "I want you both to come in here."

When the girls entered their mother's bedroom, they immediately noticed a crib and changing table, and their mom sitting on the bed. On the bed in front of their mom was what looked like the pad from the changing table, and beside that was what looked like a couple of diapers, a pair of plastic baby pants, and a container of baby powder. "What up, mom?" Lindsey asked. "Are we going to be babysitting this Summer or something?" "Well, sort of," mom started. "Sit down I want to talk to you both about something. At that Kellie giggled, and said to Lindsey, "maybe mom is finally going to start treating Sarah like a baby since that is always how she acts." "Kellie, stop," Lindsey said with a warning glance. "No, Lindsey, that's OK, let her continue. That kind of comment is exactly why I wanted to talk to you both." "I'm sorry, mom, I didn't mean." Kellie tried. "Don't bother saying you're sorry. I've heard that before. The problem is that you just don't get it. Well, I have a solution to that. After this, I don't think you will be teasing anyone about being a baby again."

Kellie looked down-too frightened about what was coming next. "Great, she thought to herself. One lousy joke and now I'm probably going to get grounded for the whole Summer." "I warned you, Kellie," mom started again. "All you had to do was lay off for one day. But, instead, you just kept going. I've been talking to your Aunt Laurie and Mrs. Milsap, and we all think that the only babyish behavior around here is coming from you. Since you seem so intent on treating Sarah like a baby for what you think is her babyish behavior, I think maybe you should try a little of that medicine yourself and see how you like it." At that Kellie, lifted her head and looked at her mom in shock, then her sister, then back to her mom. "Mom, you can't mean." "Yes, I can, Kellie, and I do. I am very serious. I've tried every other kind of other consequences I could think of up until now, maybe it's time for something new. And, just to be sure you understand how serious I am, we are going to start right now."

"No way, mom! I'm not a baby, and I'm not." Kellie tried. "You will do as you are told, little girl. And unless you want this to last a very long time, you will do exactly as you are told! So, here is what is going to happen: I am going to put you back into diapers, and you are going to be treated like your cousin Katie for one week. If you behave and act your age, your baby age that is, then it will end in one week. If you have learned your lesson by then, then we will put all the baby things away and nothing more will be said. And, in case you think it can't get worse, it can. In the next week, I will give you three warnings about inappropriate behavior. If you use all your warnings, or if I decide that you have not learned your lesson by the end of one week, then we will reduce your age even further and make this last as long as it takes for you to "grow up" and be a big girl again. Am I understood?"

"But mom, Emily is only 18 months old!" Katie exclaimed. "That's right," mom responded, and that how old you are starting right now." "I'm sorry already. I promise it won't happen again. I get the message, OK?" Kellie tried. "Sorry isn't good enough at this point, Kellie. I've heard that many times before and it usually lasts five minutes before you start again. Now, baby girl, now get over here so mommy can get you changed into your diapers before you have an accident," mom replied sternly. "No way, mom, I'm not going to." Kellie started but was quickly interrupted with: "that's one warning. Do you want to keep going?" Lindsey then added, "Kellie, please just do it. It will be over in one week. Please don't make it worse."

"Fine!" Kellie said, and she stood and walked over to her mom. "Pouting is exactly what I would expect from a baby, Kellie, so don't think that is going to convince me that you are too old for this," mom said as she quickly stripped Kellie's pants and undies off her. "Now, lie down, so mommy can get some nice dry diapers on her baby," she continued. As she powdered Kellie, and fastened the diaper around her waist, mom said: "I know that this isn't your fault, Lindsey, but I'm going to need you help with this. I still have to work, and I'm going to need some help caring for the baby. Aunt Laurie will be babysitting Kellie while I'm at work, but I will need help at home too. You are the best babysitter I know, and I know I can trust you." "It's OK mom," Lindsey replied, "I'll help. She's still my sister, and I know this isn't going to be easy for you or for her." "That's very understanding of you, Lindsey," mom said. "I knew I could count on you. I've arranged for a diaper service, so we won't have to wash diapers, but babies can't change themselves, can't feed themselves, and can't be left alone." At that, mom slid the plastic pants up over the Kellie's diaper and stood her up. She then removed Kellie's shirt and training bra and replaced them one of Sarah's pink t-shirts. "Mom, this is Sarah's shirt," Kellie tried only to have mom respond: "I know it is. But it fits you well enough, and it's not too long so it won't get in the way when you need to have your diapers changed. Besides, it has a really cute bear on it, and all babies like bears. And, one more thing, Kellie," mom continued, "babies don't call their mothers 'mom', so from now one you will call be mommy or ma ma. Is that understood?" Kellie nodded.

"Lindsey," mom said, "would you please take your baby sister out and put her in her playpen? Oh, and I'm sure she is thirsty by now, so please get a bottle of juice from the refrigerator and give it to her. I have a few more things to do, and then I'm going to go get Sarah from Mrs. Milsap's. "But mom," Kellie tried, "don't I at least get some pants?" "No, Kellie, we are not going anywhere tonight, so there is no need. Besides, this will make it a lot easier on us when we need to change your diapers." "Change them? You mean I have to use them too?" Kellie asked on the verge of tears. "Of course. You are a baby now, and babies wear diapers for only one reason." At that, mom pick up a pacifier and put it in Kellie's mouth. Kellie knew better than to spit it out at this point. Her only hope was to go along and just get this over with.

After getting Kellie into her playpen, Lindsey got her a bottle of juice from the fridge and handed it to her sister. "I'm sorry, Kel. I'll try to help, but please just go along with this so it will get over quickly. Mom will calm down, but only if you behave. I know it will be hard, but I know you can do it." "I know," responded Kellie, "thanks for being nice about it." At that Kellie settled down and started working on her bottle.

After a while, mom came out of the room, approached the play pen and picked up the empty bottle. "Good baby," she said with a smile, "you finished your bottle all gone." She then handed Kellie a baby toy and said: "try to play sweetie. The next few days are going to be awfully boring if you don't learn to play."