Master Debater

Connor loves to argue. In fact, one might go so far as to say that he LIVES to argue. I am pretty certain that most of the movements I felt while I was pregnant with him were the movement of his head back-and-forth, arguing in utero. This arguing is not limited to close family members, either. Oh no. We've advised friends/store clerks/passers-by on how to get out of arguments with this child. Our advice? "Go limp."

Unfortunately, both Craig and I forget our own suggestion and engage the donkey in a debate, us armed with logic and reason and him armed with stubbornness and a devilish grin that he saves for when he sees you weakening.

This last week, we experienced a quite few debates with this child. Here are three examples:

Connor found the game Cootie in his great-grandmother's basement and proceeded to put an insect together. He brought the finished bug over to me and said, "It's a co-crotch." I realized what he was trying to say and corrected him, "Do you mean cockroach?" "It's a co-crotch", he insisted, this time with that little smirk of his. "Cockroach," I maintained. I could see the gleam in his eye when he realized he could win this argument. "Cootie," he proclaimed victoriously.

While we were in the car, Connor put his face against his window and started to blow a raspberry. Me: "Don't do that." Connor: "Why?" Me: "It gets spit all over the car window. Do you clean the car windows?" Connor: "Do YOU?" Me: "Touche, little dude." Connor (wanting to know if he won this round): "Is touche good?"

During another car ride conversation, this time between my husband and son, Connor declared Craig to be "poopy". Craig, feigning hurt and surprise, said something to the effect that he hadn't been trying to hurt Connor's feelings but he sure could go down that road if that's what Connor was shooting for. Connor asked what Craig was going to say and his dad couldn't come up with something quick enough for the boy. "Let's get this over with," Connor requested.

I will say this again....One of the hardest parts of being a parent? Keeping a straight face.