The Kids Are On A Roll Today

{Lunch time, our house.}

Me: Are you done eating?

Jackson: Yep, I am done eedin'!

Me: Ok! So, let's -- hey, take your foot off the table, please.

Jackson: No.

Me: {moving closer and making eye contact} Jackson, it's not OK to tell me no when I ask you to do something you need to do. Do you understand?

Jackson: OK, Mommy. But I weewee DOOOOO want my foot up on 'da teebowl!

Me: Tough crackers, get it off of there.

Jackson: OK, Mommy. {removes foot} Mommy?

Me: Yes?

Jackson: What does 'no' mean?

Me: Well, you know, it means, no... {Jackson looks on, waiting for a real answer}... uh, OK. If I have...uh, a cookie and you say "Can I have that cookie?", and I say "No", what does that mean: that you CAN have the cookie, or that you CAN'T have it?

Jackson: Dat I CAN'T have dat cookie.

Me: Right! So you do know what 'no' means, honey!

Jackson: {after careful thought and now sporting a crinkled, lowered brow} But Mommy, I weewee DO want dat cookie!