Okay, we're on vacation right now...busy driving 4000km across the country...but, I just had to check in from the road to share a conversation I had with my 7 year old son yesterday:

I'm sure this has happened to you:  You are in a store...maybe even just to browse, because after all, we moms like to browse...your kids are with you, but they KNOW the rules, which bascially entail:  "Don't ask for anything because you aint gettin' it and you'll just make me mad!"

Naturally, we fully expect our children to follow the rules.

Naturally, they do not follow the rules.

They ask for everything under the sun, moon, and stars.  And each emphatic "NO!", just leads them to ask more and more, and even to ask for things they DON'T want.

Case in point:  We are on the ferry from Vancouver Island to the Canadian mainland.  It takes 2 hours - there is not much to do but browse the gift shop on board.  I tried to sneak away and do my "just looking" (eg:  reading gossip magazines without paying for them!) in peace and quite without children.  Apparently, my dh decided at that moment to take a nap and sent the children to look for me.  So, just as I am trying to determine if Nicole Kidman really is pregnant, in walks my youngest son.

Daniel:  "Hi, Mom!"

Mom:  "Who are you?"

Daniel:  "Mo-om!!  Hey....can I have this bag of licorice?"

Mom:  Giving him the evil eye - "You just bought a bag of candy.  No way."

Daniel:  "Look at this cool car!  Can I buy it?"

Mom:  "No."

Daniel:  "With my OWN money?!?"

Mom:  "Daniel, cardinal rule here is:  Never buy toys on the ferry.  They are highly over priced and you can get the same thing in a dollar store for a buck!"

Daniel:  "Aww!  Please?  It's so cool!  I need a new car."

Mom:  "No.  No candy.  No toys.  Nothing."

Daniel:  "Well...how 'bout a shirt, then?"