...your 3 year old tells you the "real truth" about why he is naughty.

My son and I were snuggling one night after a particularly hard week with his behavior. (Due to our work, we frequently have visitors in our home.) Out of the blue, he told me, "Now I'm going to tell you the real truth. Sometimes I'm naughty because everyone pays attention to you (DH and I) and not to me." I asked him what we could we do. DS replied, "Have them talk to me." pause "Now I'm going to tell you the really real truth, I want everyone to look at me, smiling, laughing, and paying attention to me." After he told me this, I began to direct some visitor attention to him. Problem solved.

Another day, "The real truth is: I'm naughty because I want to do everything I want to do."