There's probably a lesson about honesty and open communication with your kids hidden deep in the past few weeks, but I decided to ignore it and instead take a trip down Bribery Lane. When my early attempts to talk Alexis into leaving the Ariel costume home didn't work, I thought I needed to resort to trickery. Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on how good of a person you want to be that day, I guess), I failed miserably at that project.
I just didn't have the heart to hide the Ariel costume.
But! But! I'm not above bribery! As Alexis and I were packing her things before our trip, she ran to her playroom to get the costume she wanted to take with her for Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique. As she stood there grinning ear-to-ear holding the horrific Ariel costume, I very nearly let her have that battle. But, then I remembered how much trouble she has walking in that fish tail dress. Instead of arguing, I offered her an option. She could wear the Ariel costume if she wanted, but if she wore the Jasmine one instead, I would buy her whatever she wanted at Downtown Disney.
You would have thought I had offered her Justin Bieber's phone number. The kid spit out, "OK!" so fast I wasn't even sure she had spoken at all. A few minutes later, it was clear, though. I was going to have to cough up the cash for a "Baby Ariel," but Alexis would willingly wear the Jasmine costume.
I consider that a win.
Never one to just let me have my moment of victory, however, Alexis decided to get that last little jab at me. When it came time for her Fairy Godmother in training to start working on her hair, she was offered her choice of hair colors. There was blond and light brown and dark brown and black and all sorts of magnificent colors.
Of course she chose the tacky, obnoxious, only-thing-I-didn't-want pink.
Whatever. I still think I won the war.
And she still looked adorable.