The scene was lunch. The issue started off as more bread. It was rationally explained that two large slices of bread was enough. I decided to start timing here.

Miss 4, “I want MORE bread”

“I want MORE bread…please”

This was about 3 minutes.

Miss 4, “I want more food please Mum.”

Insert rational repsonse about a banana.

Miss 4, “I don’t WANT a banana, or FRUIT.”

This conversation took another 3 minutes.

Deciding that she might as well go for the real good stuff she started asking for the ‘box’ juice in the fridge. These are a treat in our house.

Miss 4,”Can I please have a juice?”

Insert rational explanation about the strawberry smoothie that was pre-promised after school pickup, hence no juice.

So this is where the timing went on for ages. Try 20 minutes.

It included Miss 4 being very polite.

Yelling.

Crying (broke my heart, but I resisted).

More yelling.

Miss 4, “I WANT A JUICE!”

Mum, “I want a MG convertible.”

x 10 or so times.

This resulted in a conversation about how it was just as useless as me asking for an MG convertible as it was for her to keep asking for a juice.

I even compromised and said that she could have the juice instead of the smoothie, after school, not now.

The final result? A drink of water and waiting for after school for the smoothie.

The final count? Over 35 minutes. I am very proud of her. If she was to apply that determination in getting her Law Degree or saving for her first house at 21 then my work here is done.

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