Emmanipulation

OMG! Emma is the mistress of manipulation.

Last night Emma said she was tired and wanted to go to bed. We got her blankie and Embles, the cabbage patch kid, and she said her goodnight's to Mark. We went upstairs, I put her in her bed with all her creature comforts, hugged and kissed and loved and hugged some more. And that was that...or so we thought.

It was so quiet upstairs that Mark and I gave each other that smug parenty look and settled down to watch a DVD. Little did we know that Emma was not falling to sleep, but rather scheming up ways to keep us running for the next hour or so...

It took eight or so trips to the toilet, a plaster on a 'sore', me undressing Embles her cabbage patch kid, me redressing her cabbage patch kid, putting her 'blankie' on and me taking her 'blankie off, replacing her 'blankie' with her Dora Explorer blanket, putting it on, taking it off, covering toes, uncovering toes.

I must have climbed those stairs 20 to 30 times. Mark got his fair share too. He had to kiss her (non existent) sore better, chase her across the landing to put her nappy back on after a phantom wee and he had to kiss Embles the doll good night.

Eventually she settled in bed and asked if I'd do 'round and round the garden for her. "Of course" says silly me.

Silly me: round and round the garden...

Emmanipulation: not that finger! The other finger

Silly me: okay (changing finger) round and round the garden like a teddy bear...

Emmanipulation: no mommy, not that way! The other way!

Silly me: oh okay (changing direction) round and round the garden like a teddy best, one step....

Emmanipulation: No! Not steps like that! Little steps. Small steps.
It's a cute teddy bear. Not a big one!

Silly me: (finally catching on) good night Emma. Sleep tight.

We changed pillows, swapping the square one for the rectangle one, the rectangle one for the hello kitty one. Not only for Emma but for Embles too. We catered to the needs of the three bears with milk that was too hot, too cold and eventually just right.

We crushed bugs that weren't there and shoo'ed 'moffies' away (Emma can't say 'moths). We put mozzie spray on. Several times.

Just when Mark and I thought we were going to snap (a neck) she shouted 'goodnight...love you mommy. Love you daddy. I'm going to sleep now.'

Holy crap! Emma is the queen of manipulation and I'm the little string wrapped round her finger...