So the girls and I are on the way home tonight from church. I usually try to give them a run down of what we’re doing when we get home especially if it’s near bed time. I was telling them they could play for just a few minutes and then we’d have to get ready for bed. Since the time changed, I’m going to try to set their bedtime at 8 now instead of 9. Emma asks about chocolate milk. I say that’s fine. She asks if she can play her computer games. I say for a little while.
Emma: Why do you say no a lot?
Me: I just told you you could play your games.
Emma: You say no a lot.
Me: Yes, I do say no sometimes.
Emma: You need to say yes all the time. I want to do what I want to do.
Me (just to humor her): Well, if I said you could what you wanted to do, what would you do?
Emma: Everything I wanted to.
Me: Well, what is everything you want to do?
Emma: Everything I want to do. (Yes, I know this is painful)
Me: Well, what IS everything you want to do?
Emma: OK. I would go home, get my chocolate milk, play my games for a little bit and then go to bed.
Me: Great, because that’s what I just said we’re going to do.
At least her "everything she wants to do" is still the same as what I want her to do. This conversation does not bode well for the teenage years though.