Okay, so I said I was going to post several stories about Eli’s negotiating skills. (Click here for Part I if you missed it.) Here are a few more examples I remember:

A more recent one was several weeks ago. I was putting him to bed, but he wanted me to read to him and mommy had told him too ask me to. So he says that mommy wants me to read him a book, and if I don’t read to him, mommy will be angry at me.

Another time, mommy was upset about something he did or didn’t do (I don’t recall, specifically). So, not wanting to be loudly reprimanded and cleverly repurposing previous talkings-to, he says, “Mommy, shhh! We have neighbors! You’re too loud! You need to be quiet!”

Also more recently, if it’s time for bed or something, but he wants to, say, play more, he says things like, “Just five more minutes.” And we’ll be like, “No, one more minute.” And he’ll reply, “Just three more.” And we’ll be like, “Two more.” “Three more,” he’ll insist. And, not entirely unlike God speaking to Abraham after being convinced to spare Sodom if just a handful of righteous people could be found within its walls, we allow, “Three more, and then straight to bed, okay?” And then he’ll take the deal.

And, as I’m sitting down typing this, Joanne just told me a story from earlier today (not exactly a negotiation, but relevant enough). She was taking a shower, but Eli wanted to use the toilet — and only the toilet in the bathroom mommy was using, despite my pleadings to him to use the other one. So, he goes in with a knock and asks her, “Mommy? Can I come in?” And she says through the curtain, “Well, you’re already inside the bathroom.” And he gives a sweet “Thanks” and does his business.

Even when he’s being a pistol, he always ends up putting a smile on our faces.