Thursday, September 23, 2010

Master negotiator

This morning Alex had two pieces of toast with honey for breakfast. Then he asked for a bowl of Weet Bix. One bite into the Weet Bix and he wanted two more pieces of toast. I was reluctant to make them as I thought his eyes were getting too big for his belly so I said that once he had finished the Weet Bix, I would make the toast.

"No mummy," he said, remaining calm and rational (not the "noooooo!" whine I had expected), " I do need the toast to be in front of me at the same time as the Weet Bix. I just do."

I repeated that I didn't want him to run out of space and waste food.

"I promise you," he assured me, "It won't be wasted. Mummy, I still love you but I'm not happy about this. I really want you to make me the toast now. Please." I could see him mustering the strength to control himself as he looked at me plaintively.

I suppressed a smile and agreed to make the toast. I wanted to trust his judgement and reward him for asking in such a polite way instead of whinging. I figured if he then wasted the toast, my point about not wasting food would be made for future reference. But do you know what? He ate the whole thing.

5 comments:

  1. I hope one day to see this blog in a theatre near me (but not Charlestown Hoyts - $10 ain't worth a back injury!)

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  2. What a polite little fella he is. I can't wait for the whining to stop. Sadly I think it may be with Jack for life. xx

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  3. I'm still trying to figure out whether it was politeness or an incredibly canny way of getting what he wants! Am I a good role model or have I been played? :-)

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  4. and lol re Charlestown Hoyts - I'll try to aim higher than that!

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  5. Oh I just love the "I still love you but I'm not happy about this" - wonder where he got that from hmmm? Priceless.

    How old is Alex? Our Mr 8 eats almost as much as our 14 year old at the moment and like you, I constantly doubt his ability to eat the layers of extra toast he asks for at various times through the day - but he does.

    Shame you lost out on the food-wasting point! :-) Oh well...

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