Persuasion

The little guy is developing his own style of encouraging cooperation. There is a McDonald's near him with a large play area inside, a place to climb and crawl and slide. It's big enough that parents are allowed to play too. The little guy has always been very accepting of the limitations imposed by my prosthetic leg, but this time he was going to give it the good old pre-school try. "Oma, can you sit here?" he said, pointing to the step at the entrance to one of the tubes. "Sure." I went and sat on the step. "Can you put your head inside?" A little wriggling and I was able to do that. "Can you put your body inside?" A little more wriggling and I was in further. "Can you put your legs inside?" "No, I'm sorry. I can't do that." "Okay." He shrugged and went up the spiral stairs. I'd been completely clueless about what he was trying to do! Another time, Oma, Opa, and the little guy were heading home after a busy morning when he announced, "Opa, I want you to watch a movie with me today." "Okay," said Opa. "What's it about?" "Penguins." "Oh, Oma will want to see that movie. She really likes penguins." Opa was just trying to make sure I was included, but Wyatt must have thought he was being passed to an alternate sponsor. He said, "What Antarctica creature do you like?" Opa had to think a minute--there aren't that many choices. "Seals," Opa offered. Clearly trying to tempt him, the little guy said, "There's a seal in this movie." Naturally, we all watched. We're going to have to stay on our toes as he gets older. But it's fun watching him develop the gentle art of persuasion.