When I first started blogging, I coined a nickname for Anna, the Activist. (To see my reasoning behind this name, check out this post.) It turns out her younger sister, Sarah, formerly known as the Banshee, is the real Activist (or Anarchist as the case may be…)

Anyway as Anna’s verbal capacities increased and developed, I noticed a related paradigm shift. At some point in her short history Anna began to take advantage of the persuasive power of her tongue. So, a more appropriate handle for her these days would be The Negotiator.

If Anna desires to sway a parental decision or opinion on certain matters pertaining to her (if you’re not careful) you will often find yourself wandering down a labyrinth of elaborate (seemingly logical) explanations, circular reasoning, and mind-boggling repetition. At times it can mystify, but truth be told, most of it is just smoke and mirrors. You have to see past the illusion or you’ll find yourself agreeing to endless storytelling contracts, extended bedtimes, and a whole cornucopia of treatises and concessions.

And she’s only three years old!

The other evening, however, I successfully out-negotiated the Negotiator. I was so proud of myself.

Here’s how the deliberations went.

Setting: Bedtime, after the nightly activities have commenced and the Negotiator is all tucked in.

Negotiator: Daddy, can I have some water? I’m really thirsty…

(Knowing the bladder-size of my daughter this allowance has obvious risks, one of which is interrupted sleep and potential sleep loss.)

Me: Anna, you already had a drink after you brushed your teeth. (Reminding her that our contractual agreement had already been carried out.)

Negotiator: Please, please, please… (Rebuts with a compelling arsenal of polite cuteness.)

Me: OK, Anna, I’ll make a deal with you… (Fight fire with fire.)

Negotiator: OK!

Me: First, you go to sleep. (Pause for theatrical effect…you have to take these things slowly or she’ll get suspicious.) Then I’ll get you some water, OK. But you have to go to sleep first. You can’t stay awake.

Negotiator: (Hesitating, but ultimately, thinking she’d achieved victory…) OK.

Me: (Closing the door and the deal) Just close your eyes and go to sleep. Don’t stay awake!

Negotiator: (Begins sucking her thumb) OK, Daddy. Good night.

Me: Good night. (Thinking, YES! I can’t believe it worked! Satisfied with my maneuver, but fairly certain that’s not going to work for too many more months.)