How to negotiate what you want on a Friday.

Negotiation (how to pivot a conversation)

They came up to me, blond heads bobbing on a Friday, the younger deferring to his senior, i.e. the Five-Year Old. He looked at me and took a deep breath.

He likes The Incredibles,
he said, gesturing to his brother,
but I like The Lion The Witch and the Wardrobe.

Beat. They stand there letting this information settle.

The Older speaks again, nodding his head as a thought suddenly comes to mind. He starts nodding his head.
Speaking of The Lion The Witch and the Wardrobe,
he says,
should we watch it now?

Boss move.

That one fellow

Can we have worship now?
he ran over and began pulling books out, then looked up again confidently.
I’ll find a book with Jesus in it.

Sounds good, I said, how about -

- I was interrupted by the thunder of his older brother flying into the fray to divert him from an incorrect path: Not that one! he screeched, grabbing aside the Jesus book from his younger…

…not that one, that one isn’t a Jesus book, it has a witch in it!

He calmly set it aside.
We can read that one after worship, okay?

Also, they insist on referring to the tyrannical and wicked antagonist from The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe as:

‘The Queen of Narnia,’
rather than
’The White Witch’

These are important distinctions for those of well versed in the Narnia Universe.

Moments that popped today

Two boys, in the early a.m., wandering outside in pajamas measuring various items with a string.

A five-year old helping water trees, then assisting with curry for lunch.

Two boys combining a wood railroad track-train combo with a dollhouse and tiny furniture to create a giant…town. With a railroad.

Two boys exerting their independence by taking their shirts off outside in the p.m. and trying to figure out the intricacies of tying off water balloons.

A 15-year old reading The Scorch Trials outside.

Two musicians making music at 5.12pm, and making me fall in love with the Olivia Rodrigo song Wondering from High School Musical the Musical the Series.

Four kids eating popsicles under a tree in the late afternoon sun.

A two-year old bringing me a book to read on the front porch. The book? The Bible.

Four kids plus a cousin playing with a goat in the field.

Speaking of goats, hope you all have a great weekend ahead!

Other posts below that took place a Friday.