Me: Mabel, please sit down and eat your breakfast.
Mabel: Okay-okay-okay.
(Pause.)
Mabel: I'm sitting.
Me: Now eat something, please. Mabel. Eat something. Please.
Mabel: What's the majick word?
Me: I said it.
Mabel: No you didn't, Mommy.
Me: Yes, I did. Now eat.
Mabel: Mommy, you know the word I like to hear. Why don't you say it?
Me: Yes, I did say it Mabel! Now EAT please! That's the magic word, I said it, now EAT!
Mabel: That's where the majick word goes, right there, after 'eat', 'NOW EAT PLEASE'! You have to say please, Mommy. It's majick.
Me: Mabel, you're magic, you're making me nuts. No kidding. Now stop stalling and eat something please, or I'm eating your breakfast myself and you'll be hungry.
Mabel: Nooooo!
Me: Then please eat!
Mabel: OKAY-OKAY-OKA-A-AY!
(Mabel eats two bites in silence.)
Mabel: Mommy, I love you.
Me: I love you too, Mabes.
Mabel: I have a hug for you.
Me: Stay in your chair Mabes, you can give me the hug after you eat.
Mabel: Hug-gy!
(I reluctantly allow her to get out of her chair. I receive a lovely hug and kiss.)
Mabel: Hug for Daddy!
(Daddy receives same.)
Me: Thank you Mabel, now back to your breakfast please.
(Mabel returns to her chair. She takes another bite.)
Mabel: I'm full. I'm not hungry anymore.
Me: Mabes, you have to eat. You can't go to daycare on an empty stomach. They won't give you any food until lunchtime and you'll be hungry.
Mabel: No, I'm full.
Me: No way, Mabes. You're eating more, you're not wasting that food.
Mabel: Noooooo! I don't want anymore! My tummy hurts!
Me: Mabel! You're fibbing! You just want to leave the table! YOU HAVE TO EAT! If you want to go to play, you have to eat!
Mabel: I'm full!
Me: Fine! But there are no snacks coming before lunch. I need you to know that.
Mabel: I know! I don't want a snack!
Me: Alright. Fine. You're excused.
(I start cleaning up the table. Mabel plays around me. She follows me into the kitchen as I carry her plate.)
Mabel: (very quietly) I don't want a snack, Mommy. K'nai have a popsicle tho?
Me: Too soon, Mabes. (handing her her breakfast plate) Back to the table.
Mabel: Okay-okay-okay.
(Pause.)
Mabel: I'm sitting.
Me: Now eat something, please. Mabel. Eat something. Please.
Mabel: What's the majick word?
Me: I said it.
Mabel: No you didn't, Mommy.
Me: Yes, I did. Now eat.
Mabel: Mommy, you know the word I like to hear. Why don't you say it?
Me: Yes, I did say it Mabel! Now EAT please! That's the magic word, I said it, now EAT!
Mabel: That's where the majick word goes, right there, after 'eat', 'NOW EAT PLEASE'! You have to say please, Mommy. It's majick.
Me: Mabel, you're magic, you're making me nuts. No kidding. Now stop stalling and eat something please, or I'm eating your breakfast myself and you'll be hungry.
Mabel: Nooooo!
Me: Then please eat!
Mabel: OKAY-OKAY-OKA-A-AY!
(Mabel eats two bites in silence.)
Mabel: Mommy, I love you.
Me: I love you too, Mabes.
Mabel: I have a hug for you.
Me: Stay in your chair Mabes, you can give me the hug after you eat.
Mabel: Hug-gy!
(I reluctantly allow her to get out of her chair. I receive a lovely hug and kiss.)
Mabel: Hug for Daddy!
(Daddy receives same.)
Me: Thank you Mabel, now back to your breakfast please.
(Mabel returns to her chair. She takes another bite.)
Mabel: I'm full. I'm not hungry anymore.
Me: Mabes, you have to eat. You can't go to daycare on an empty stomach. They won't give you any food until lunchtime and you'll be hungry.
Mabel: No, I'm full.
Me: No way, Mabes. You're eating more, you're not wasting that food.
Mabel: Noooooo! I don't want anymore! My tummy hurts!
Me: Mabel! You're fibbing! You just want to leave the table! YOU HAVE TO EAT! If you want to go to play, you have to eat!
Mabel: I'm full!
Me: Fine! But there are no snacks coming before lunch. I need you to know that.
Mabel: I know! I don't want a snack!
Me: Alright. Fine. You're excused.
(I start cleaning up the table. Mabel plays around me. She follows me into the kitchen as I carry her plate.)
Mabel: (very quietly) I don't want a snack, Mommy. K'nai have a popsicle tho?
Me: Too soon, Mabes. (handing her her breakfast plate) Back to the table.
