Mabel: Mommy? Can I have a deal? If I eat all this broccoli, and these pieces of turkey burger, can I be done dinner?
Me: Mabes, I don't do eating deals. That's Daddy's thing, not mine.
Mabel: But if I finish those things, can I be done?
Me: I told you Mabes, I don't do deals.
Mabel: But can I be done if I eat all that?
Me: No. You have to eat your whole dinner.
Mabel: But I'm not hungry.
Me: Okay, well then you'd better go upstairs and go to bed to preserve your energy.
Mabel: I want to go play with Abigail and Catelyn.
Me: Well, if you don't eat your dinner you're going to be too weak to play.
Mabel: No I'm not.
Me: Yeah, you will. And you'll tell me you're hungry too.
Mabel: No I won't.
Me: Just finish your dinner, Mabes.
Mabel: But if I just eat those pieces I'll be full.
Me: No deals.
Mabel: But I can eat just those pieces and be done?
Me: Fine. Yes.
Mabel: Can I have ice cream for dessert?
The longest stare down in the history of stare downs happens between us.
Mabel: I'm pushing it, right?
Me: Yep.
Mabel: It's okay, I get it.
You can just give me cookies.
Me: Mabes, I don't do eating deals. That's Daddy's thing, not mine.
Mabel: But if I finish those things, can I be done?
Me: I told you Mabes, I don't do deals.
Mabel: But can I be done if I eat all that?
Me: No. You have to eat your whole dinner.
Mabel: But I'm not hungry.
Me: Okay, well then you'd better go upstairs and go to bed to preserve your energy.
Mabel: I want to go play with Abigail and Catelyn.
Me: Well, if you don't eat your dinner you're going to be too weak to play.
Mabel: No I'm not.
Me: Yeah, you will. And you'll tell me you're hungry too.
Mabel: No I won't.
Me: Just finish your dinner, Mabes.
Mabel: But if I just eat those pieces I'll be full.
Me: No deals.
Mabel: But I can eat just those pieces and be done?
Me: Fine. Yes.
Mabel: Can I have ice cream for dessert?
The longest stare down in the history of stare downs happens between us.
Mabel: I'm pushing it, right?
Me: Yep.
Mabel: It's okay, I get it.
You can just give me cookies.