From Papa’s point of view:
O: Papa, can I something something?
Papa: Well, I am not sure we can.
O: Papa, why not? It will be so pretty.
Papa: Sorry, O, what do you want to do?
O: Can we the house something something?
Papa: silence. Well OK. Why don’t you speak to your grandma.
O: Ok. Bye, Papa! Grandma, can we paint your house purple with pink polka dots?
Grandma: I don’t think so.
O: whining But Papa said YES, Grandma!
Grandma: I don’t think Papa knew what he was saying yes to.
O: Why not, it will be so pretty!
Grandma: Why don’t we paint a birdy house?
O: thinks about it. Ok. Here is Mommy.
In the meantime, Grandma hands the phone back to Papa.
Papa: What did she ask me?
Me: She wants to know if we can paint your house purple with pink polka dots. And you said yes.
Papa: Oh. I thought saying yes would be the smartest thing to do. Now, I don’t know.
Me: Well, you are going to have to make it up to her if you won’t let her paint your house purple with pink polka dots.
Moral of the story. Don’t say yes to a toddler unless you understand what you are agreeing to. She will hold you to it.
