Thursday, February 11, 2010

The subtle art of negotiation...

* originally written on 1/30

Tonight we were driving home from visiting Grandma T. and I made the mistake of asking the kids what they wanted for dinner. A rookie mistake, I know...


Evie: I want Spaghettios!

Jake: Oh... I am really craving Top Ramen.

Evie: No Jake! We are going to have Spaghettios.

Me: Okay you guys, you need to find a compromise... because I am NOT cooking 4 different meals tonight!

Jake: (quietly to his sister) Evie, don't you like Ramen? Because it is really yummy.

Evie: No Jake. I really like Spaghettios.

Brian: Hey you two, a compromise means that you both have to be willing to change your minds.

There was an intensely whispered conversation until we turned down our street.

Jake: Okay, so we both like chicken nuggets. Should we ask mom if we have some tater tots?

Evie: Yeah! I like tater tots!

Me: Hey guys, I also have a bag of onion rings in the freezer.

Jake: Oh yeah! I LOVE onion rings!

Me: I also have mini corn dogs...

Brian: (muttered as an aside to me) Why are you muddying the waters?

Jake and Evie: Yes! Corn dogs and onion rings!

Me: (feeling guilty for steering them down that road, because Brian is allergic to cornmeal and can't have the corn dogs) Okay, how about I cook corn dogs, chicken nuggets, onion rings and tater tots? Then everyone can have a little of each.

Jake: (sounding perplexed) Mom? I thought you didn't want to cook 4 different things tonight...

Hoist by my own petard. No other word for it...

4 comments:

Emilie said...

The thing about it is, however, is that if they are WILLING to compromise and be grateful YOU become willing to give them whatever they want.

Susan said...

For those of you feeling too foolish to ask, I thought I'd help :)
pe⋅tard  /pɪˈtɑrd/ Pronunciation [pi-tahrd]
(definitions #1-3 removed as not applicable)
—Idiom
4. hoist by or with one's own petard, hurt, ruined, or destroyed by the very device or plot one had intended for another.

Sarah said...

Ahhh, but these four are all cooked in a similar way, thus making it less work for mom and easier to have variety. That's my rationalization right there.

Elizabeth said...

1. This post really makes me want onion rings and corn dogs.

2. I agree that they are all cooked in a similar manner, thus less dishes. That is my goal when cooking--use the least number of dishes possible.