I moved from Bavaria to Saxony about two years ago. I always thought the whole "The West" "The East" thing was a joke and no one actually talked and thought like that.
Then I realized that it was just that there is "The East", "The West", and "Bavaria". Bavarians don't identify with "The West". Nothing "The East" says about "The West" applies well to Bavaria. It's just a very shielded microcosm. Bavarians don't identify as Germans. They identify as Bavarians primarily. They are doing their own thing.
I mean, the dick punch was really unnecessary but I am glad that other families experience... Weirdness, I guess. And exclusion of a parent.
I can't count how often I read and heard the advice to "just present your kid with two options to choose from".
My kid, even before she became verbal, always wanted option C when presented with two options.
"Do you want this hat or this cap?" "Neither"
"Do you want this blue pants or these red sweatpants?" "I want... a green... dress" we don't even have a green dress.
"Shall we go to the zoo today or do you want to go to the playground with Anna?" "I want to go on the trampoline" .