"Momma, can I watch TV?" Alexis asked. Her voice dripped with sweetness as she continued, "Please?"
I glanced up and found that her eyes were open wide as she gently fluttered her eyelashes and stuck her bottom lip out in the most adorably pouty way ever. Never before has a creature been so very cute. In that moment, I would have given her a unicorn if I would have had one handy.
"No," I replied, not even cracking a smile.
"Maaaaaaan," Alexis replied as The Cute melted off of her face. She looked me square in the eye and deadpanned, "You're good."
As she stomped away, clearly unhappy that The Cute Act hadn't worked on me, I chuckled. Some day she will have a similar conversation with her own kids. Someday she will know they are trying to charm the pants off of her, but hopefully when that someday comes, she won't give in either.
It wasn't until the next time Alexis grabbed The Cute out of her back pocket and carefully applied it to her face that I paused. I paused in my reaction and I paused in my thinking. I paused. And I paused.
She was asking for a piece of gum. It's the easiest of noes, but yet I couldn't just say it. I couldn't just say "No" and go on with my day.
"Alexis," I looked deep into her Bambi-like eyes. "It's not a good idea to use your looks to try to get your way," I continued.
The Cute fell from her face as she pondered my words.
"If you really want to get your way in life," I continued, "You have to start learning to use your noggin, not your looks." My words were heavy as I carefully thought through each and every one of them.
Alexis sensed that I was telling her something that was very important to me. "What do you mean?" she asked.
"You have to be smart and tell people why they should give you what you want," I explained. "Tell them why it's a good idea and if there is a reason that benefits them, you should mention that."
Alexis thought for a moment then said, "Momma, can I have a piece of gum? If you say 'yes' I'll stop asking!"
I think maybe she understood what I was trying to say. Mostly.
I just hate that the real world will likely make a liar out of me, at least once in a while.
