After picking up my seven-year old daughter, Ashley, from school today, I imposed on her a cruel and intolerable burden. Instead of going directly home, we stopped at a store, thus foiling Ashley's elaborate television watching plans. On the way to the store, the following discussion ensued:
Ashley: I don't want to go to the store (though seated and buckled, she was very much "foot-stomping" unhappy.)
Me: You can't always get what you want (singing - imagine Mick Jagger, only, you know, completely different.)
Ashley: I always have to get what I want.
Me: If you think you always have to get what you want, you are going to have a very unhappy life.
Ashley: But adults always get what they want.
Me: Incoherent response expressing vehement disagreement, something along the lines of "uh...doh...pff...tthaah...nu uh."
Ashley: Yes they do.
Me: (gathering my composure slightly) No they don't. They just complain about it differently than kids do. (I don't think that was a particularly edifying parental comment.)
Ashley: Yes they do (shockingly unpersuaded by my "I'm rubber and you're glue, everything you say bounces off me and sticks to you" form of argument.) They can do whatever they want. But if kids can't do whatever they want, then adults shouldn't be able to do whatever they want either.
Talk amongst yourselves.
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