It’s happened to the best of us-something we have done comes back to bite us. (And I’m not talking about the five month old teething babe that we made that is now biting…that’s another story.) And when that happens, sometimes you get “thrown under the bus” when you get called on it. Like today.

After an amazing, unprecedented fifteen minutes of working on a Preschool Activity Workbook during quiet time, the Little Man (at the ripe old age of 3 1/2 years) looks at me and asks, “Mama, can I play that new game? The Lego game? The Lego game on the iPad that we just downloaded? Can I play it on the couch? Pleeease Mama?”

**Author’s Note-

We’ve been trying to curb the television viewing time, because between giving up a nap, new Jake and Sofia episodes every other week on Disney Junior, a newfound love of the Octonauts (also Disney Junior), a baseball season in full swing, and some pretty great hockey games lately, I feel like the television is always on. (And yet my DVR is still 90% full…) In an attempt to counter the television-watching-semi-comatose state, we have found some apps on the iPad (and my non-Apple, Samsung smart phone) that are interactive, somewhat educational as well as age appropriate, and are even fun! The most recent addition has been a Lego Duplo app that is probably “too easy” for him, but it is novel, and he is enjoying it.

Back to the story. So, because it was so nicely requested, and I am trying to avoid television, and I need to go get the newly moving (rolling and backwards scooting, but still) 5 month old to take a nap, I agree, “Okay, for a little bit of time.”

Little Man responds with, “But I want it a whole lot of time. A BIG bit.” And then it happens. During my pause, he can sense my decision making skills are hampered by lack of sleep combined with my desire for “true” quiet time in the house again. He goes in for the kill, and with his blue eyes opened wide, he looks into my eyes and says, “Please?” and then bats. his. eyelashes.

…

I am shocked. This is new for him. I quickly try to figure out if I have ever batted my eyelashes in front of him (or even not in front of him) recently and I cannot think of a single time…I ask him, “Where did you learn to do that? Who taught you?” figuring I would get the most common recent response of, “I taught it to myself.”

Nope. “Dada taught me.”

Busted.