A Cool and Calm Moment

It is Saturday. The kids are playing upstairs. They are being creative...together!!! They are mixing pieces from Ainsley's Dora the Explorer Talking House and Ian's Bionicles to create some evil creature stomping machine. Ian's dialogue is mature, and Ainsley mimics him. It is great to hear them getting along so well.

Wait just a second . . . I hear the rumbling of an argument . . . could it be? Yes, the peace is over because someone decided to play on the computer. Now they are arguing over who gets to use the mouse. Aaaaaaauuuuggggg!!!

I walk upstairs to assist in settling the argument. Since Ian likes to negotiate, I offer him a deal. Whoever goes potty and gets dressed first plays on the computer first. Ian does not like that deal at all, because, he argues:

I do NOT go potty on days when I play on the computer! And I don't WANT to get dressed! Quit making deals! That's not fair!

Meanwhile, Ainsley is heading for the bathroom. While the "unfairness" discussion continues with Ian, Ainsley manages to wet her pants while standing right next to the toilet.

It has been fifteen minutes since the deal was put on the table, and Ian is still sulking at the computer, waiting for a grown-up to log in for him. Running footsteps over my head. Giggles of the naked three year-old kind. Sounds like Ainsley may have taken the bait. A door slams on Ian's side of the hall. Wait a second . . . right on cue, Ian says:

Be QUIET in there!

Ahh, things are back to normal.