The Negotiator

By Mama Mabel

It's looking like Ladybug will be a garage sale queen.  She's already turning negotiating into a fine art.  For example, here's one of our recent conversations:

Me:  You keep playing with your blocks.  I'm going to use the bathroom by myself then I'll play with you some more.
Her:  No shut door.
Me:  I'm going to use the bathroom by myself.  You don't need to come in with me.  The door doesn't need to be open.
Her:  No shut door.
Me:  Do you need to go potty?
Her:  No.
Me:  Then I'm going to shut the door and use the bathroom by myself.
Her:  No... [pause for some hard thinking]  Little bit?
Me:  You want me to only shut the door a little bit?
Her:  Uh-huh.
Me:  Are you going to peek at me?
Her:  Yes.
Me:  No.

The final result:  I left the door open a crack.  She tiptoed over and peered in at me through the sliver of open space to her great delight.  Two is such a weird age.