Delay, Defer and Redirect

Reid may have a future as a Washington spinmeister. He has a real talent for the regular duties of a press secretary/damage control professional. He works the room masterfully, his eyes constantly darting around for an exit strategy from whatever unsavory option is currently under consideration-- most often bedtime.

Tonight at 7:45 (as with most nights at 7:45), Reid was told it's bedtime. He acted amazed, at first (no watch), but then immediately went into this delay, defer and redirect routine. He holds up his Little People taxi and asks, innocently, 'Car?' I suggest that something with less potential for rust is a better option. 'Hecoper?' Reid asks holding a helicopter up. I agree. Reid quickly grabs two little people, though the hecoper's capacity is but one little person. I attempt to negotiate, which is a disastrous move on my part. Reid agrees that he should in fact be allowed to bring the helicopter, taxi, both little people and another vehicle of his choice. I suggest we go back to one aircraft and two little people, and that we hug mommy and go take a bath. Reid manages to both be scanning the toybox while continuing to draw me into a conversation about the relative merits of different Little People forms of air transporation and somehow (with his third hand?) produces a tow truck, which must be brought to the bathtub since it appears that the taxi has had some engine trouble.

It is at this moment that I realize I've been completely played by a two year old.

I scoop Reid up (playing the North Korea-type trump card) and end the negotiation session. Reid weeps. I tell Katrena over the wailing, "This seems familiar to me...I think I spent a good bit of my childhood negotiating with parents, changing the deal at the last minute and sobbing when things didn't go my way...it's all an act."

Katrena doesn't seem to believe me. I pivot Reid, who continues to sob out of direct sight on my shoulder, so she can look at his face. His crying is clearly fake and upon making eye contact with Katrena, he cracks up.

We took a bath with a helicopter and two little people. And a submarine. And a fish.