Like A Fiddle

Micah swims naked. We've established that before. It's a battle we've fought and given up on. It's just us here, after all. Or at least it is until someone stops in, and then it's just us and a flabbergasted onlooker. But my theory is, it's his pool and he'll pee in it if he wants to. Or something like that.

We did have a 10 minute battle of wills when I took Micah to the local beach. It wasn't our pool, and although pee would probably cleanse the lake water a bit, shorts weren't optional. He finally decided that wearing shorts into the giant bathtub (weird though that is) was better than not bathing in it at all.

And we thought that maybe, just maybe, he'd now swim in tiny trunks at home. But we thought wrong. He still swims naked here. On a rare occasion he'll let his swimmy shorts on long enough to get them soaked, and then they go flying across the patio to lay drying in the sun while his tanned nethers cool off in the water.

Today he wanted to go swimming, and I clearly said I don't think so, son. But he doesn't like to be told that he can't do something. (Shush, you in the red saying that he must be just like his mama.) He took his shirt off. By now he was hanging on my very last nerve and I was primed and ready for the battle.

Just try to disobey me today, boy. Go ahead. I dare you.

I told him again that he could not go swimming. I know he understood. He took his shorts off. I said you can take those shorts off but you're not going swimming. And he headed upstairs. Smart boy that. Just like his mama.

But when he came downstairs? He was wearing swim trunks and carrying a towel. He grinned as he walked right by me and out the door. The boy was going swimming.

I was played like a fiddle. That little stinker knew for a certain that if he put on trunks he'd get to go swimming.

And here's the question of the day: who won that battle? Me, because he swam with clothing on? Or him, because he got to go swimming when I told him no?

Compliance is a complicated issue.

21 comments:

Michelle said...

I hate it when they outsmart you like that! And I just know that the older they get, the more often that's going to happen.

Unfortunately, unless he wears trunks each time now, I do believe he won that one. Of course, if he wears trunks I still only consider it a draw. Sorry, Karen.

CanadianMama said...

While he may have played you, he looked darn cute while doing it!

Anonymous said...

I'd call it a draw, as you both got what you wanted. Can't win 'em all.

Unknown said...

Smart boy you have go thtere!! I say also is a draw. :)

Karen said...

I say, Win-Win! That made me laugh loud enough my husband told me to close the door so I didn't wake the sleeping.

Flea said...

Oh lord, woman. Michelle is probably right. Stinker. He's probably smarter than the other three combined, isn't he? So now maybe he'll work on tan lines?

imbeingheldhostage said...

who won? that's going to require some thought. Look at that smile though, how can you begrudge a trunk-wearing smile like that?

kimmy said...

Looks like he had fun! He truly has a great smile!

Kimmy

Burgh Baby said...

I HATE when I get played like that, but what's a Mom to do?

Darn kids are too smart for their own good.

Beth said...

I love that child. You won, dear mama! He is WEARING swim shorts! He needs to learn that skill.

He won. He got to go swimming.

This is what you call a WIN/WIN situation!

The very best outcome! lol

Glowstars said...

I think he's definitely won - played you like a game of card.
You do know it only goes downhill from here!

Pam said...

I hate when my kids out smart me like that- though sadly, it happens daily! Call it a draw and you both win then!

Anonymous said...

You won. Keep telling yourself you won. I think that's for the best, right?

Wineplz said...

uh, I'm kinda goin' for a tie. :)

what a smart little stinker!

Andrea said...

What a smart little man!! I had to laugh when he even brough his towel!! Kids are smart!!

Karen Deborah said...

He's so smart, little Mr.Charming. What a way to win you over to his way of thinkin, and it worked! CUTE!! I'm a total sucker for cuteness and little tiny nekked buns,...

Debbie @ Three Weddings said...

Yep, he's not smart enough to function in society. We can't learn anything from the likes of him. (In case any one missed it, those comments are dripping in sarcasam.) He's a cutie!

caramama said...

Actually, I don't think either of you won. It's like the perfect compromise, where neither of you walked away 100% happy. But compromise is good, right?

MommaSuds said...

I just love reading your blog.That little Micah is so cute.You have beautiful children.

I am pretty sure that he may have one this battle haha.They know just how to get what they want don't they.My kids do stuff like that all the time.Like look mommy I am doing something you want me to do so now I can go do what I want to do.Good luck with that!

Michelle said...

Who could resist a cute face like that anyway?! He's too smart for his own good :)

Kayla did something like that recently. We were walking through a parking lot and she kept jumping up to me saying "up!! up!!" and everytime I told her no, she could walk and I wasn't carrying her she would yell "up!!" at me. I told her especially not when she's talking to me like that. Then she very nicely said, "please up, please" - how could I resist that time?

My Two Army Brats said...

He is so darn cute! How could you say no to that face? I have that problem here too that when the boys find a way around my rules because they weren't stated to include/exclude all other options! BOYS!