In Which My Kids Throw Words Back in My Face

I have reached an interesting stage in parenthood. My kids are now a lot more articulate and clever than they used to be. I find it startling that they not only have a mind of their own which they use to come up with creative ways to sass me, but that they are paying very close attention to what I am doing and saying.

Violet, who is turning 6 towards the end of this month, is particularly smarty-pants sometimes. I have no idea where she gets it. (I know tone is hard to convey in writing, so FYI, that last statement was ironic in tone).

She is extremely persistent. She does not take no for an answer, especially when she is after chocolate or videos. I can say no, but she will always hound and pester me and try to break me down. She is the human equivalent of Chinese water torture. Drip...drip...drip...drip...drip...drip....I'm thinking she has a future in Special Ops, interrogating potential terrorists. She would break them down for sure.

One of the ways in which I deflect her is to say, "Stop asking me, and then maybe I'll think about it." I say that a lot.

The other day she was playing quietly on the floor with an entire lake made out of toys, and I asked her to clean up because it was almost time for her to practice her violin. "Violet," I said. "Please clean up your toys now." Silence. "Violet." Silence. "Violet, I said clean up!"

She fixed me with an unblinking stare and finally responded, "Stop asking me, and then maybe I'll think about it."

Bam. Just like that. In yo face, mom! But it was so funny I had to really struggle not to laugh or even crack a smile (and I think I died a little inside from the sheer effort of it).

Unfortunately, Rose also has been doing something similar and since she is only 3 I can see that she has still many years to develop her sassing abilities. I can't wait to see what they say when they are teenagers!

Yesterday she was outside in the backyard very loudly banging something on a metal chair. PJ was asleep in my room, and my window is facing the yard so if someone is loud in the yard its very audible in my room. I reprimanded her and said, "Rose! Stop making so much noise! PJ is asleep!" She continued. I took her noise-maker away. She kept banging the chair with her hand. I took the chair, folded it and put it away.

Then I turned and started to beat a rug to clean it. This was, keep in mind, a gentle thumping sound. Rose ran over to me and said, "Mom! Stop making so much noise! PJ is asleep!"

Ahhhhh.... I did allow myself to laugh that time!

Do your kids ever throw your words back in your face? And more importantly, are you able to keep yourself from laughing??