Caught…by a Two Year Old…

Last week we had our new refrigerator delivered. Pre- delivery John and I made a concerted effort to use up much of the stuff in the fridge and freezer. We figured it would make it easier to empty out the old if there was less stuff to move before the new one arrived. I determined milk levels perfectly (yet another one of those abilities one acquires with children). Alice had enough milk to see her through to the delivery time as long as I kept her to her usual quota. My daughter, aka “The Dairy Whore”, however did not want to cooperate with my finally laid plan. The night before our delivery was due she stood before the refrigerator demanding, “Milk, more milk.”

Thankfully, Alice is not able to open the doors on her own, so I decided to use this lack of ability to my advantage. I calmly said to her, “Sorry Alice but we don’t have any more milk. I have to buy some tomorrow.” My rational parent brain knew I could not explain to a two year old that if she drank the milk that was in the fridge now she would not have any in the morning. Delayed gratification is not a forte among two year olds. With my lie now justified in my mind, I proceeded to get dinner on the table. Alice would not be deterred. She remained standing at her post now with her hand on the door handle. She demanded that I “open it” because “I saw it there.” I was stunned. Not only did she use a full sentence; not only did she show remarkable powers of observation, but she caught me in a lie. It is funny how one can be proud and ashamed all at the same time.