A TV when she is 12 years old...

I should have known I was in trouble.  That is all I can say, I should have known trouble was brewing when Maeve strolled on up and casually mentioned, "Mommy, I have to ask you something."  I'm still scratching my head over what followed.

Me - "What did you want to ask me?"
Maeve, straight to the point, - "Can I have a TV in my room?"
Me - "No.  We've talked about this.  I am not getting you a TV for your room."

At this point, the discussion should have been over.  Question asked, answer received, but No, Maeve was determined to make her case.

Maeve - "But, Mommy, I am so booorrreeed.  If I had a TV, I wouldn't be bored."
Me, foolishly thinking I had her here, - "Now Maeve, if you are bored, you have so many toys to play with and books to read.  Go play with..."
Maeve, politely, but firmly cutting me off, - "Mommy, I know I have a lot of toys and books, but I am too bored to play with any of them."  At this point, her voice is adopting a tone to it.  Some sort of mix between strained patience and blatant patronization as she has to explain everything to me.  "Mommy, I am thinking of my toys, but I am too bored to play with them and I am thinking of my books too.  Mommy, I am just too bored to read."

Now, this is actually pretty funny and I am congratulating myself, a bit prematurely, that not only is this an easy argument to win, but I am getting "Good Mommy" points here by showing such patience and restraint.  So, I start up again.

Me - "Well, Maeve, if you can't find anything to do", I begin, but before I can get any further.
Maeve - "Mommy, you have a TV in your room.   No fair, I should have one in my room too.  Mommy, don't you want to be fair?"
Me - "Now, Maeve.  I don't have a TV in my room, I have a computer and I use it to work."

Now, I am feeling guilty over a little white lie, because I use my computer to watch TV too.  Just have to love Hulu & Netflix.  But I quickly rebound.

Me - "Maeve, you watch Netflix on the Ipad.  Why don't you just use that right now if you are so bored."
Maeve - "Mommy, I am just too bored to use the Ipad.  Besides Mommy, you know how I always am on your Ipad and you can't play your card game?  Well, if I had a TV in my room, I could watch my TV and you would be able to use your Ipad."

Notice the quick switch there by Maeve.  This is my favorite part.  The fact that I will have an opportunity to use the Ipad, which is mine by the way.  The conversation continued for another five minutes, with me saying No and Maeve giving her best argument on the advantages of the arrangement.  I have to give her credit, she is good.  In the end I did what any good, firm and to the point parent would do.  I told her she could have a TV when she was 12 years old.  If I thought she would forget about this conversation and I wouldn't have to worry about it anymore, I was wrong.  Since then, her opening line of conversation with anyone she comes in contact with is, "I'm getting a TV when I am 12 years old.  Mommy promised me!"

I am in so much trouble when she gets older.  :)

Posted by Laura at 2:49 AM