For a long time Max has slept with Lucy in her bed. At first Lucy liked this idea and they would snuggle and giggle with each other. We have always insisted that Max ask Lucy permission before he gets into bed since it is HER bed. Up until recently this has been a formality. Max would ask and Lucy would acquiesce. However, Lucy has begun to be annoyed at Max’s habit of sleeping sideways and she is enjoying the power we have granted her to control Max’s sleeping fate. Now when Max asks to join her in bed she often gives an emphatic “no” which results in Max crying and me begging Lucy to let him sleep in her bed.

Tonight we picked the kids up from David’s aunt’s house after a date night. It was late, they were tired and Max was wailing off and on in the car on the way home. He was being stubborn about watching “Thunderbirds” before bed and since this is a “boy” movie Lucy was very much against this idea. The arguing continued as Lucy wanted to watch “Barbie Mariposa” and Max “Thunderbirds”. Just as the fighting was reaching fever-pitch Lucy struck this bargain:

Lucy: Max, I’ll watch one of your movies if it isn’t “Thunderbirds”
Max: NO “THUNDERBIRDS”!!
Lucy: Okay, if you pick a different movie I will let you sleep in my bed
Max: NO, “THUNDERBIRDS”!!
Lucy: Max, if you don’t watch something else we’re going to have a situation here.

I am so impressed by her negotiating skills here and how she uses the power she knows she wields with the precision of a Labor Union Lawyer. I’m also equally impressed by her use of the word “situation”.