Friday, May 8, 2009

A verbal contract with a four year old?

Max is a man of his word. Ever since he could talk, if we could get him to agree to something, I knew he wouldn't back out. If he said "O.K." we knew for sure that he would stick to whatever he agreed to, and never go back on his word.

Me: "Max, don't take any more cookies, O.K.?"
Max: "O.K."

And I knew he wouldn't take another cookie.

Me: "Max, I don't want you to open the front door when the doorbell rings. Only Mom and Dad should answer it, O.K.?"
Max: "O.K."

And I knew that he wouldn't answer the door.

Me: "Max, the oven is really hot. Don't go near it right now, O.K.?"
Max: "O.K."

And I knew he wouldn't go near the oven.

Me: "Max, I will read you one more book and then you need to go to bed, O.K.?"
Max: "O.K. Mom."

And I knew that after the last page of the book had been read, he would get into his bed without a struggle.


Lately, Max seems to be afraid to commit to anything, but he's sneaky about it.

Me: "Max, after you finish breakfast, you need to get dressed, O.K.?"

Max glares at me.

Me: "Max, we have a bunch of things to do today, and you can't stay in your pajamas. When you're finished eating you need to get dressed, O.K.?"

Max continues glaring, and emits a small growl.

Me: "Max get dressed, O.K.?"

Glares continue.

Me: "O.K.?.........................O.K.! .........................OK?!?!?!"

Max: "O-Kate."

Me: "What?"

Max: "O-Kate!"

No Max, you need to say O.K."

Max: "O-Kave!"

Me: "No, say O.K.!"

Max: "O-Bay!............... O-Hay! .............O-Say!"



Apparently, he's found a loophole.

16 comments:

Annette Lyon said...

Smart little guy.

Suburban Correspondent said...

Does he cross his fingers, too?

rychelle said...

that max, he is a clever one.

Elizabeth said...

Wow, smart kid!
Love the O-Kate!
Good luck getting him back to OK.

Kristina P. said...

He is just such a cutie!

mCat said...

Reason number 202 why I love Max.

MamaHen Em said...

ahhh, the loophole~!

Mum-me said...

What a character! - you should compile all these into "The Max Book."

Staci K. said...

What a little smarty! lol

Karen said...

It's scary how quickly they catch on to things, isn't it?

Melinda said...

Oooohh tricky tricky! At the daycare I work at there's a kid there like that, too bad he's so darn cute! I would think it was Max, except his name isn't Max. Aren't I super smart?

b. said...

Have I mentioned that I love your kid?
I do.
But you're in for a wild ride!

Bonnie the Boss said...

He is one smart kid! you have to give him that.

Jo said...

I love Max! What a clever kid! O pate?

Dawn said...

love it!

M said...

The down side of a brilliant child.