Busted

A scene in our kitchen a couple weeks ago as Princess Ana is about to go to bed.

Princess Ana: Daddy, what you eating?
Me (choking on a piece of dark chocolate): Nothing.
Princess Ana: Can I have some nothing too, please?

I really thought I'd be able to get away with more as a parent. Princess Ana plays the game all too well though. The best example of this is from last Fall when the sweet princess demonstrates that she knows all the dinner time rules and how to use them to get what she wants. The basic rules are 1) stay in your chair (or at least within arm's reach of it) until you're finished, 2) don't whine to get attention from mama or daddy, call us nicely, and 3) always say please when you want something.

Princess Ana to me in the kitchen: Daddy, come see me please!
Me (doing a happy dance to her side): Yes, princess, what can I get for you?
Princess Ana: Green ice cream, please!

Most days I really get the feeling that I'm out of my league with this kid and have serious doubts about how I'm going to make it through the teen years. At least the train wreck will provide some entertainment for the rest of you.