She's three. She's isn't afraid to ask, and often. She isn't afraid of hearing "no", that just gets her going to ask for more. She overcomes objections like no one's business.
Anytime I am faced with whether or not to ask for the sale - I follow my three year old's lead. What do I have to lose? And how many times does she get what she wants, simply because she asked?
Here's a great example of her negotiating skills. Let me set the scene. We have just left the doctor's office where she hasn't thrown a typical three year old tantrum, so things are good. My husband is with me, because two children with ear infections at the doctor's office is not my idea of a great time. At this point, I'm counting my blessings because we were the first appointment, in and out prescriptions in hand, nothing to it. Then we get to the car and announce to little miss that she's going to school. This is where I fade into the background and become an observer - it's too classic!
Little Miss: (whining) "I don't wanna go to school. I wanna go to work with you"
Daddy: (firm but with a quiver) "Since you were good in the Doctor's office, I'm going to get you a train"
Note - in my opinion, this was mistake number 1. I'm thinking to myself, why is he giving away the farm?
Little Miss: (brighter now) "I want three trains" (that's my girl - up the ante)
Daddy: (looking a bit confused) "If you go to school like a good girl you can have three trains"
Note - in my opinion, this was mistake number 2. I'm thinking to myself, why is he giving in so early? But I think her lack of hesitation is what threw him. He may have glanced at me, I was pretending not to hear what was going on!
Little Miss: (beaming) "I want three trains and a truck"
Perfect. She has just negotiated that if she does what she is SUPPOSED to do, she will get way more than she deserves.
She threw a tantrum when we dropped her off at school. This morning she came into my bedroom with her new train and announced that she doesn't have two trains to go on the back of it. (I think she's a genius because it seems she knows that 1+2= the 3 trains she asked for to begin with.)
You can't see the words on the t-shirt she has on in this picture but it says, "Sassy Like My Mommy".
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