Evie has been practicing a new trick lately, which I will dub “The Redirect”. Basically, it works like this: when she suspects she’s pushed an issue too far, she turns it around on you. So, instead of saying what you think she’s going to say, she says something she knows you want instead. I’ll give you an example:

“Can I have some candy?”
“No.”
“But, can I have some candy?”
“No.”
“But, can I have some…”
::raise eyebrows::
::impish grin:: “…smooches?”

As if that is what she was going to ask for the whole time.

I really love if when she does this. First off, I get smooches, or some other similar thing she knows I want (for her to drink her milk, etc.). Second off, for her to do this, shows such an adult awareness of things. She understands that I’m getting annoyed with her questions. She understands that continuing to ask the question is not going to get her anywhere. She understands what sorts of things an adult wants from her. And she understands that subtle art of buttering someone up.

As always, Evie amazes me with her ability to grasp complicated, contextual situations and behave in ways that I would have said were far beyond a 2 year old. Kids are so much smarter than they are given credit for!