Knowing Thyself

Ceilidh's been on a naughty streak lately. Her listening skills at home have disappeared. She's been pushing or hitting her little sister, and generally being bothersome to Devlin (another post about that later). She's argued with me about dinner (nothing new there) and whines about having Daddy to herself every evening. When asked to pick out a book for bedtime, she readily agrees but then spends thirty minutes twiddling her thumbs and then screams in protest when no story is read to her. Saturday was a particularly trying day for the family. Ceilidh couldn't even sit on the couch for thirty seconds to watch a little bit of television. Nope. Instead, she climbed on Daddy, kicked at Devlin, pulled all the cushions and blankets off the couch and then, screamed at the thought of going to bed. By Saturday night, I was to ready to hand in my resignation as her mother. I couldn't find the proper desk to file the paperwork.
Sunday morning dawned cold and clear. Instead of heading downstairs for a work out, I cuddled with Aisling who was fighting a cold. Ceilidh came in to snuggle up to her hero - Daddy. Without prompting, she began to regale us with the tales of her dreams. Her night adventures included princesses and castles. Midway through her monologue, I interrupted with a query.
"Ceilidh, do you think you can be a very good girl today? That you can listen and obey Mommy and Daddy today?"
No answer. In fact, not even an acknowledgment of my question. Instead, after pausing for a slight moment, she continued with the details of her dream.
Again, I tried.
"Ceilidh? Can you be a good girl today and listen to Mommy and Daddy?"
No response.
"Ceilidh, do you hear me?"
"Yes."
Exasperated, I said, "Well?"
No response.

Wow. No promises of trying to be a good girl. Maybe she had already planned to be naughty that day. Or maybe she just knows she's not capable of fulfilling that tall order on that particular day. At least she knows better than to commit to something she can't.