Negotiating with a 3 year old

Now I know you are not supposed to negotiate with your child but for kicks one night I tried to strike up a deal with Caleb. I asked him if we could trade jobs - he washes the dishes and I would pick up his toys. Here's how the negotiations went:

Mommy: Caleb, why don't you wash dishes and I will pick up your toys.

Caleb: But, Mommy, I am too small.

Mommy: Are you sure you can't wash the dishes?

Caleb: (pauses and thinks) I know Mommy, why don't you pick up my toys and I will play with my trains! That sounds like a good deal!

LOL. If I can't win a negotiation with my toddler how am I ever going to close deals on the job!!!

Utter Sweetness

Every so often Caleb does the smallest, cutest, most precious thing that makes me want to just hug him forever.

In the last few weeks we introduced Caleb to the concept of a "best friend." At first, he came home from school with a different best friend each day. One day it was "the new Jasmin* is my best friend." The next day "Alana is my best friend". Kaitlin has lasted the longest and I think it's because she loves Little Einsteins just as much as he does. Caleb says that they play "Little Einsteins" at school. He is "Leo" and she is "June".

Last night, as we were getting ready for bed Caleb asked me, "Mommy, are you happy?"

I said, "yes, Caleb, I'm happy"

He said, "I'm happy too. I'm happy because you are my best mommy"

Just typing it gives me warm fuzzies all over again. :)

*I asked his teachers why he calls her "the new Jasmin" and they said it's a new girl. She doesn't speak very much English and for some reason she is very drawn to Caleb.

Caleb, do you want a little brother?

Caleb, Paul and I were having lunch on Saturday and we started talking about babies. I asked Paul, "what *if* we had another baby?" Paul laughed knowing that THAT is not even a option. Then Caleb answered, "NO! No babies." Paul and I laughed. For starters we didn't even realize he was listening in on our conversation and secondly, we didn't realize he had an opinion on the subject! LOL.

Paul asked him, "Caleb you don't want a little brother?" He shook his head no and gave a confirming, "Nope."

Lucky for him, a little sis/bro will not be arriving anytime soon.