The Negotiator

It's a curse that my son's father is a litigator. It's been passed along into my son's blood. You would be amazed at the quick and logical reasoning this kid can come up with. Let me share the latest negotiations.

Josh is not a fan of sitting still in primary. It probably doesn't help that I'm up there leading singing and playing games (many times with items from his own playroom). He likes to come up and talk to me while I'm teaching. He likes to turn around and try to make the boys behind him laugh. He likes to sit in as many positions as he can in his chair besides actually sitting on his bottom facing forward. When he walks the hallway, he actually runs it. This has been a struggle for the last year. I've tried everything from ignoring him to putting one of his prized toys in a time out when we got home.

Today we started a new discipline idea. It's called 3 scoops. He starts church with 3 scoops of ice cream for dessert. If he needs a warning, I show him 3 fingers to remind him of the chocolate ice cream waiting for him at home. If he continues to act up, then I show him 2 fingers, and so on.

After sharing time/singing time today he was down to one scoop. I sent him on his way to class. I checked on him only once and he looked like he was doing great. After church we were talking about his 1 scoop of ice cream he was going to get. And then the negotiations began.

First he asked me if he could have 3 scoops instead of his 1 scoop. I reminded him that he didn't make good choices during singing time. He then said, "But mom I was REALLY good during class. I think I should get 3 scoops".

This is when the loving mom in me wants to pick him up, squeeze him tight in hopes he'll stay this size forever, and then dish him up 3 big chocolate scoops of ice cream with sprinkles on top. But then I quickly come back to the exhaustion I'm feeling after primary and hope that it will only take one week with one scoop before we have 3 scoop Sundays.

So without getting his extra 2 scoops with me, he started to hit up his dad. He asked Scott if he would give him 3 scoops when we got home. Scott reminded him of his choices and that he only earned 1 scoop. Josh reminded him how well he did in class. Scott told him that he would make sure he gave him 1 big scoop. Josh then said, "Ya. How about 1 BIG scoop that is really like 3 scoops."

We're in trouble with this little guy. He is so smart! As long as we can keep him steered in the right direction, he's going to do amazing things with his life. Until then, I've got to learn how to outsmart the negotiator.