Free Will? Not So Much

My 4-year-old daughter asked me to play with her in her pretend kitchen yesterday. This kid is creative AND persistent. She will do whatever it takes to get the results she wants.

She asked me if I wanted a drink from her pretend kitchen. This is my cue that she wants to get me a drink from the pretend water dispenser on the front of her pretend refrigerator.

I thought I would have a little fun with her...

"I think I would like some milk," I said.

She opened the fridge, picked up the 'milk carton', 'opened it', and sniffed it.

"Ooh, Daddy, I think the milk is bad," she said.

"OK, then how about some orange juice?", I said.

"Hmm," she replied, "we seem to be all out of orange juice, Daddy, but I will get you some at the store tomorrow."

I stifled a chuckle as I'm sure I have said this to her many times over the course of the last few months.

"OK, I will just have some water," I said.

"From the sink or from the 'fridge?", she asked.

Still trying to get a rise out of her, I replied...

"Hmm, how about just from the sink?"

She went over and pretended to turn the handles.

"Gee, Daddy, the sink is broken...it's not working. How about some nice cold water from the fridge?"

Boy, she's good.

"OK," I finally said, "I'll take some water from the refrigerator."

"There. Now see, Daddy? Isn't that better?"

It's a good thing I was never that stubborn. ;-)