Wednesday, February 11

the long con

Today my daughter and I had the most wonderful lunch date right after nursery school pick up.  Often we head straight home, maybe with a stop at the grocery store, or a quick play with friends before we say our goodbyes at the busy city intersections.  But today for no other special reason than I wanted to, we headed out to buy Valentines and have a bite to eat.  The lunch date was a real success.

Hmmm...I really do need to address those cards to her classmates sometime soon but that's nothing that can't wait until... oh crap, is that party tomorrow? Okay, that's nothing that can't wait until commercial breaks during LOST.

Our day was going so well that I decided we deserved a treat of chocolate - the good stuff - a small tin of truffle-filled love in individual, handy dandy wrappers.  We had two each and saved the last one for Dad.  Saving the last one for Dad was her idea - I was all for splitting it right there but she insisted we keep it for him.  It was touching to hear her say "and this one is for Dad, Mommy - when he gets home from work".

And yes, only one for him - not two - because some fancy chocolate company puts five chocolates in a box instead of six. Five? That's not a chocolate number - that's a number that says "go back and get more".

Anyhow, I thought that was adorable and mature to save the last one for Dad though I had my doubts the chocolate would last the afternoon.  She has a pachyderm's memory when it comes to sweet stuff so I figured the cello wrapped gift would last another fifteen minutes before she justified the eating in a chocolate-muffled response that includes a statement about how he would want her to have it, and she heard him say she could have it.  She's got great hearing that can span cityscapes.

I placed the gift under the stroller and our day continued.  I didn't think of that single chocolate again until bedtime when she announced she had a gift for Daddy and would like him to open it.  She trotted off and came back to present to him - while giggling - the box with a lonely chocolate waiting inside.

She appeared pleased with herself, I was touched by her maturity, and was completely taken off guard when she said "You want me to have this, right Daddy?" and plucked the chocolate from the box he just opened and proceeded to eat it right up.

I looked at SB and said helplessly "she promised it was for you" to which he responded "honey, she went for the long con and she got you good".

Oh sweet juju, we are in so much trouble.

For the record, that one chocolate in a three year old was what I'm sure is equivalent to a triple expresso in me before bedtime.  I think she hovered an inch above the bed until she finally passed out.  That girl has got my number I say.

* photo from my trip to Nashville which was overwhelming as usual - putting faces to words is always a shock and a half - the good kind.

23 comments:

R. Molder said...

That was a great story! Your daughter is really funny.

Jess said...

*wiping tears* Oh dear God I love your little girl. Yep. You're in trouble, sweetie.

Anissa Mayhew said...

Hey, tell her my kid has the Ponzi scam all figured out with twizzlers....they could hit the road as grifters.

Anonymous said...

"Here is my little finger. This is what you will be wrapped around for the next twenty years. Are we clear?"

"Yes, your majesty."

As long as you're all clear on your place in the universe, no one gets hurt.

April said...

hahahaha! that's fantastic!

Anonymous said...

you better watch out, soon she's going to be frosting couch cushions and conning people into buying her a replacement cake when they accidentally cause her to drop it!

Kyla said...

Ha! I guess she figured that it was the thought that counted...not the actual chocolate.

for a different kind of girl said...

Reading this made me realize that I am a long con artist! I can't even begin to tell you how many times the kids have seen me bring ice cream in the house and then never gotten any when they've asked for some the next day (yeah...the next day). I blame it on their dad, of course.

So I'm a con artist and a liar. Awesome!

Mandy said...

I love that you have a con artist. Note that the operative word there is "you" and not "I"...

Anonymous said...

Love this - so true.
I once asked for a bite of my daughter's cookie. She was sitting in her buggy, maybe 21/2, and she turned to me, the one pushing said buggy & said in a very matter of fact voice: "you can have the crumbs Mummy."
I secretly hope that they will hold onto this guile, this sweet ferocity when they are in their teens and The Pack is pressuring them to go against their own nature.
~ EarnestGirl
http://twitter.com/home

Amy Urquhart said...

haha oh dear. What a clever girl she is! I'm glad you two had a nice lunch out together, at least.

Chris said...

I don't know about you, but kids today seem tons smarter than I was at their age.

Amo said...

Okay, her and Beaux are NOT allowed together. Ever. They would rule the world.

And my 2yo would be their pawn.

Eek.

Anonymous said...

Girl, you better be growing eyes in the back of your head — she's too smart!

I miss you! There's just never enough time. We must catch up by phone, no matter how pedestrian and conventional it may be. Oh, and that Maple fudge candy that I should have meted out to myself in tiny doses? Gone in one day. Type 2 diabetes is imminent. But I still heart your head for giving it to me because YUMMMM :)

Mayberry said...

Ooh. Never trust a pretty face!

CJ said...

That is one smart chocoholic!! You have taught her well!!

Heather said...

I'm going to try that I think. My husband doesn't really eat much chocolate so if I give him candy I can just bat my eyes at him and say "you want me to have this right?" And I'd have to eat it for him to not be impolite.

mamatulip said...

So, tell me, Katie - how do you feel about the fact that I am going to be Gigi's MIL? Because she and Oliver are TOTALLY SPENDING THE REST OF THEIR LIVES TOGETHER.

Tania said...

I'm really proud of that girl! Mine hasn't figured this stuff out yet so I'm still ruling on the chocolate front. That's about the only place I rule these days.

Ali said...

the long con!!
this is why i love you.
and her.
and LOST.
:)

Heather said...

Ack!! Google ate my comment and now I don't remember what I said.

Oh well, the long con though....cracks me up!

Julie Marsh said...

At least she is willing to accept delayed gratification - in order to get ALL of the gratification, that is.

Whit said...

Relatively that might be a short con. You could be in trouble.