Actual conversation:
Me: "okay Clara, it's time for you to go to sleep and Mom to go downstairs and wash dishes (code for lay on the couch and watch TV)"
Clara: "but Mom, I want you to scratch myyyy baaaackk" (additional letters meant to convey whining)
me: sigh (to give myself a mental acknowledgment of wearniness) smile (to reassure her I'd do anything in the world to make her happy) "okay, but just for a minute, I've got a lot of dishes! (code for my shows about to start!)
back scratching begins.
back scratching ends.
Clara: "if you don't keep scratching my back I'll go find someone else to live with"
Me: (thinking for just a brief moment — ahhhh. perfect. no interruptions while I finally get a chance to sit down, relax and watch mindless television...can you ask if they'll feed you breakfast before bringing you back home? And hey, before you leave, will you make Mommy a gin and tonic?) "oh honey I would be so sad if you decided to do that. And chances are, those people won't scratch your back past 8:00 p.m. either. I love you, now go to sleep sweetheart."
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Oh my goodness. That is almost an exact match to the almost nightly conversations between Sarah and me. The only difference is that instead of saying she'll go live somewhere else, she just insists, "You haaave to Mommy, because I neeeed you to." For awhile she fell for me saying that I'd come right back after clearing the table, or washing the dishes, or getting my jammies on. Then she got wise and realized I did not come back, not that she remembered anyhow. Thing is, I did and do always come back to watch her sleeping for awhile, and thank my lucky stars for her, and her brothers.
Thanks for posting, Mel. -Lori
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