Monday, March 06, 2006
"Daddy, what's a moron?"
So we were driving along the other day, in the van that still has an air of our road trip in it, when I was cut off by another car. “Nice move you moron!” I voiced out loud. My six year old daughter Mackenzie questioned from the back, “Daddy, what’s a moron?” “It’s someone who isn’t very smart.” I replied. She thought about it for a little while and then offered “Well that must mean that Tanner is a moron.” Trying to keep a straight face, as she was while making this statement, I told her that we would try to refrain from labeling her two year old little brother with that tag in the future.
In the past few weeks, I’ve learned a few things about arguing with a four year old. Parker has taken it upon himself to not accept any original offer. He’ll make for a good negotiator. I’ve learned that if all we have in the fridge is milk, do not make milk the lead offer. “Do you want some juice?” I will ask. “No, I want milk!” the negotiator will reply. Milk it is. I illustrated this point quite well the other night when it was getting close to bed time. “Parker! You’re going to stay up all night and watch TV.” I told him. “No I’m not!” he firmly replied. “Yes you are!” “No I’m not!” The conversation ended with me telling him “Fine, you can go to bed then!” And off he went.
In the past few weeks, I’ve learned a few things about arguing with a four year old. Parker has taken it upon himself to not accept any original offer. He’ll make for a good negotiator. I’ve learned that if all we have in the fridge is milk, do not make milk the lead offer. “Do you want some juice?” I will ask. “No, I want milk!” the negotiator will reply. Milk it is. I illustrated this point quite well the other night when it was getting close to bed time. “Parker! You’re going to stay up all night and watch TV.” I told him. “No I’m not!” he firmly replied. “Yes you are!” “No I’m not!” The conversation ended with me telling him “Fine, you can go to bed then!” And off he went.
