The negotiator
On November 3, 2011
- Uncategorized
Grace surprised me today with a little bit of negotiation while eating supper.
Grace: "Chick, chick"
Dad: "Grace, you can have more chicken once you have eaten all your vegetables."
Sometime passes, vegetables are mashed and played with.
Grace: "Chick, chick"
Dad: "Grace, I said you can have more chicken when you are finished your vegetables. It is just four mouthfuls and then you are done."
Some feet shuffling and consideration of the options.
Grace: "Two mouth."
Dad: "Do you mean you will eat two mouthfuls?"
Grace: "Ja"
Dad is a bit surprised that his daughter is negotiating the terms of the deal rather than just flat out refusing.
Dad: "Okay, eat two mouthfuls and then you can have some chicken."
Two mouthfuls are eaten, then some chicken is given to her.
Dad: "Have another mouthful and then you can have some more chicken."
Dad (to mom): "I didn't say that the negotiation was closed…"
I was surprised by the level of her negotiation skills. In retrospect she definitely negotiates quite a bit, but it is mainly of the nature of, "just one more time." Now she is upping the ante and wanting to come to some sort of middle ground. I thought it was quite cute. I am not too sure what I am going to think by the time she is four though.
Checking out the penguins at the aquarium with Mom while I was at a meeting in the city.
