Kimmie's Negotiation Skills

Saturday was a quiet day for all of us, afer a busy evening with Linyun family, Viv's family and Edith. Kristine started to have a fever, possibly a virus from school as several of her classmates have been absent from school last week. So it was a rest day at home.

Late afternoon, since it was a warm day around 17degC, Grace wanted to take the kids downstairs. Kimberley refused to put her socks on herlsef, insisting on Grace to do it for her.

I took over, gave her 5 counts of warning: put on the socks herself or she stayed home. After 5 counts, I locked the main door after Grace and Kristine exited. That shocked Kimmie. She gave chase, screaming her head off. I insisted she had to put on her own socks before she could go. She refused. Kimmie took a while to figure out how to unlock the door and then chased after Grace and Kristine, screaming 'mama'. By then Grace and Kristine has taken the lift down, so Kimmie took the stairs, barefooted, without any warm clothing. I gave her 1 min headstart and then I took the lift to ground floor to intercept Kimmie, but she changed her mind, possibly on 4th Floor and return to pound our door on 6th floor, screaming for 'papa'. Her scream should have attracted at least a few busybody-neighbours but nobody popped their heads out. They were probably muttering to themselves behind closed doors,"It is that Giam family again."

Once inside, Kimmie demanded nonstop wanting me to put her socks on for her (so I could take her downstairs to Grace). I held my ground and insisted she had to put them on herself.

These were our exchanges:
"你帮我穿袜子，我自己穿boots" (You help me with my socks and I will put on my boots myself). I was very impressed with her full sentences. She wanted to meet me halfway, but no deal.
"No, you can put on your own socks"
"No, I am still a baby"
"You are not a baby"
"I miss Mama, 帮我穿袜子"
"Then you put the socks on yourself."
The sequence repeated many rounds.
Then Kimmie climbed to sit on my laps, gave me a kiss and said,"Papa I love you." Now she was onto the 'killing me softly' tactic.
"I love you too Kimmie."
Then the sequence started again.
Such determination!
Then she took my mobile and started pressing buttons as if to call.
She turned to me for help to call Grace, saying,"I miss Mama."
I insisted she had to put on her socks herself.

This went on for 35 mins. Neither of us won on Saturday. A lot of efforts to get nowhere. Deep down, I think I lost. Kimmie had to climb a steep hill just to stay still, and she did.

Kimmie went out with Grace this afternoon. Kimmie put on her socks herself!

(Updated Monday Mar 16: Grace put kimmie's socks for her this morning before sending her to kinder. Back to Square 1)