Two observations tonight. First, I have extremely intelligent children- almost too smart for their own good sometimes! Second, that they are also very strong willed sales people.

One example: a conversation that I had with Claire tonight. She had been using potty words (like poo), and I had to put a little hot sauce on her tongue to remind her that was not acceptable. After this, she cried and screamed ( despite the drink of milk and piece of bread to put out the imagined flames). Later in the evening, I had to remind her once again the consequences of using that type of language. She responded, "Mom, time out is worse than hot sauce. Really. I scream and cry every time! You should put me in time out instead." This clued me in to the fact that I truly had found the right thing to persuade her to behave.

Ben is the same way! He has been grounded from chewing gum until June, because he's taken to spitting it out in odd places, like the bathroom floor, or the back seat of the car. When I reminded him of the fact that he was grounded, he said, "Mom, you seriously think you'll remember that for that long? I'm only six, and I can't even remember what happened last month. What happens if you forget?"

I love it when I get to hear their minds working. :)