December 7, 2018
Dear diary,
Super Smash Bros came out today. Eli got it as an early Christmas present from Umma. The download completes at midnight. And so the bargaining began between Eli and mom.
Can I wake up at midnight to play?
No.
Can I wake up at five and play?
No.
When can I wake up to play my new game?
6:00 am as usual. It’s still a school day.
Can I wake up at 5:30?
You can. But you have first brush your teeth, eat breakfast, put on clothes before you play.
…
Mom, all these restrictions are giving me a headache. Can you just trust me to do the right thing?
Hmmmm… yes. That sounds like a great idea.
Eli got up at 3:00 am, played for about forty five minutes and then went back to sleep.
Trust. It creates peace and self-regulation.
Love, Bob
