I am seriously soooo sick of hearing “but mom…I just…<insert 6 year old’s reasoning behind why she can’t do something or why she wants something here>“. Although I must admit I giggle thinking about the fact that I have a negotiating princess, it can be frustrating.

No matter what my conversation is with my oldest, her response is normally “but mom…I just…” I can be asking her to get ready for her shower, asking her why she can’t remember what she did in school, or anything. It doesn’t matter what the question is, I am guaranteed to have the same response!

I am excited that my daughter has learned such wonderful negotiating skills and she is a great leader. These skills she has mastered and excels in will take her far in life {I hope}. I have found that the oldest child is normally the “leader” in a family situation, and she has proved this theory true.

All too often I find myself debating back with her, because I have to have that last word. It’s an addiction, a habit or something .. I must respond to her “but mom..I just..” with something, anything just to get her to realize I am serious about asking her to do something. No matter what I respond with she has an answer.

Example of a conversation with my negotiating princess:

“Ki can you please get your PJ’s out and get ready for your shower?” – says ME

“But Mom…I just took a shower last night at Daddy’s” – says Ki

“I know, but you need to shower every night, you are getting older and you sweat running around all night with your brothers.” – says ME

“But Mom…I just don’t feel like taking a shower, I want to go to bed instead. Can I just go to bed without a shower? – says Ki

Now you can see how this could go on for hours, seriously I have played into this scenario more than once and it went on for a LONG time. Call us both stubborn or determined if you must, because that has to be the reason for the constant strong will behind her and me.

My husband is the worst about these types of situation, and he is my daughters step-father. He will respond back to her, and she to him for what seems like forever, until I finally chime in and say, “Hun you do realize you are debating with a 6 year old right?” {lol}

Finally after years of listening to these responses, I silently count to 5 in my head and if Miss Ki has not moved from her position and started doing what I asked of her she gets a special privilege taken away OR a time out to sit and think about why she continues to debate me on everything. I fear if this situation is not nipped in the bud while the child is younger, it will be something you have to deal with all their life. I am a big fan of nipping any un-welcomed behavior in the bud through consistent response and discipline tactics as soon as that un-welcomed behavior starts.

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