OUR son has discovered the word "no". And he uses it frequently and, in most cases, much to his own advantage. When he first uttered the word, oh how we laughed and applauded.

"Clever, clever boy," we trilled. "Aren't YOU a big boy?"

"No", he replied. Ha, ha, and we laughed some more.

We're not laughing now. But I'm sure HE is.

Running parallel with this overuse of the negative is his ability to turn himself into a human banana.

He mainly adopts this persona when the need to strap him into some kind of restrictive seat/pram/buggy presents itself. His body becomes rigid and his ability to bend backwards would cause any contortionist to turn green with envy.

It's never too bad when my husband is present -- not because our son sees his father as master -- simply because my hubby has the strength to actually pick him up, pin him down and strap him in.

But when it is just us -- mother and son -- it is a battle of minds, will and sheer physical strength.

And I lose every time.

"Karen," says the husband, "it's all about negotiating with him. Let him know who's boss and e-x-p-l-a-i-n why he needs to go into his car seat."

I shot him a withering look but decided to give it a go anyway.

The next time my son and I were due a shopping trip I prepared myself.

"Calm, calm, in control," I muttered, while running after him and trying to get his coat on.

I only managed to catch him when he collapsed in fits of giggles on the dining room floor. I shoved his hat on while he was down.

Then we calmly walked to the car.

"Ooh, look at that tractor," I said hoping to distract him from the imminent car-seat scenario, "shall mummy pretend she's driving a tractor?"

He was obviously gearing himself up for battle because I could see him eyeing up his car seat. Yep, I was right. Once in the car we began our frantic dance of one-upmanship.

It would have been easier securing six soap-covered eels into a stiletto shoe.

Ten minutes later and I had done it. My son was in his car seat. Okay, his hat was now at a rather jaunty angle on the side of his head. His mother's face was flushed, florid and fed-up. But he was IN.

Now I only had to get him in his pram once we got to town.