I'm not entirely joking when I say that my Q4 Parenting Strategy is to just mutter "Ask Santa" under my breath every few minutes. It works, you guys. The girls ask me for all of the things, I refer them to the fat guy with the beard, and we're all good. Half the time I don't even hear what they are asking for.
(That might become a problem come late December, but I've decided it's worth the risk.)
Alexis has already admitted defeat. She caught on to my strategy years ago, so once October rolls around, she gets REAL careful about asking for things. She tries to be strategic and only ask for things she's hoping will be under the Christmas tree because she knows I'm ignoring her. I don't bother to try to hide it.
Mila, though. Mila is only three years old, so she doesn't have a lot of experience navigating my various brands of crazy. The poor dear actually believes that whining will get her things. It won't, by the way. In fact, whining is a good way to make sure you never EVER get your way with me. I can't deal with whining. Which, LOLZ. Alexis doesn't get anything and doesn't ask and Mila doesn't get anything because of how she asks. If those two were to compare notes, they might just conquer the world.
OH. WAIT. TOO LATE. MILA ALREADY HAS.
I really super like taking Mila shopping because she's hilarious. She'll pick up an object or two and try to convince me that I want to pay for them, but mostly she's just well-behaved. We're in "Ask Santa" territory, though, so that "well-behaved" thing is open for debate. Mostly she just randomly asks for stuff and I ignore her these days. IT'S GREAT.
Except for when Mila cheats.
We were taking care of a few errands during Alexis' tumbling class when Mila saw it. I thought she was going to jump into a typical whiney beg-fest when she laid eyes on it, but nope. Instead of doing something annoying, Mila gasped, covered her mouth, and said, "Oh my gosh. It's so beautiful!"
She was referring to the Wonder Woman dress. Because of course she was.
How in the world am I supposed to say "no" to a little girl who is completely enamored with this? HOW? And who asks sooo nicely? It can't be done.
Mila has figured out how to get me to buy her things, even with my Q4 strategy in play. Uh oh.
