We have a fairly simple night-time routine in our household, and the kids seem to have responded quite well. One of our activities is brushing teeth and then going to bed. So tonight we did just this and as I was tucking Olivia into bed the following conversation ensued:

Livi: I want some hot cocoa.
Mom: No, Olivia, not after we brush our teeth for bedtime.

(Repeat above lines at least one more time, just to be sure she really can't have anything)

So she's tucked into bed. She declines bedtime prayers and no kisses or hugs for Mama tonight, either. Then I hear:

Livi (very forlorn-sounding): Mama, I'm firsty. My tummy is sad. She's empty and wants some hot cocoa.

So I chuckle to myself and again tell her she can't have any, come out into our living room and laughing about it, start telling Scott, when I hear this dialogue that Olivia has with her tummy:

Tummy (very sad): I'm so sad. I need hot cocoa because I'm so firsty (sigh)...
Livi (very matter-of-factly): Oh, I'm so sorry, My Tummy, but we can't have hot cocoa tonight...

And I know there was more, but I was laughing so hard I didn't hear it. I could hardly tell Scott what I'd heard I was nearly crying and talking so unintelligibly. It was just so funny! What a riot! Oh, after a stressful (although fun too) weekend of traveling that was just the relief I needed!

posted by Elena