Our Mansfield

Archive for February, 2012

Last night my little girl asked me to help her play the next movie she wanted. I was in the bathroom.

I teased her, “If you count to 99 from 19, I will come out.”

The little girl wailed, “99 is a big number. I can’t do it!”

I said, ” Then I will not come out.”

She cried, ” It will take ages! I don’t want to do it.”

I insisted, “No counting, no movie!”

The little started sobbing and banging the door.

I opened the door and  grabbed her hands.

“It’s naughty,” I said. “and I don’t like it!”

“I am sorry. But I still want to watch the movie!”

“How about counting to 98?”  I suddenly had a twist in my mind.

“Ah, that’s easy! I can do it, Mama.” the little girl cheered. Then she dried her tears and sailed through to 100  ^_^

What  is the difference between 99 and 98?  As an adult, it’s 1 number difference.  As a child, maybe it is a matter of how much they want to make compromise.