Jason Loves Mateios #4

Matty has a way of being cute and manipulative at the same time.  We love playing with him and doing crafty things with him, but there are times when we would just love to sit and talk while he goes and plays in his room.  So we’ll politely say that he should go draw on his chalk board or go play his little piano or go shoot baskets on his hoop…hoping to get about 15 minutes worth of chill time.  Almost every time Matty thinks this is a great idea…until he gets about half-way up the stairs.  He typically turns around, has a really concerned look on his face like he doesn’t completely understand what’s happening.  We notice the hesitation in his climb up the stairs and ask him what’s wrong.  He just smiles at us as if he’s figured out the solution to an unsolvable math problem and says the following in the cutest voice possible, “Daddy (or Mommy), you can come play with me in my room.  It will be fun.”

This isn’t really an invitation as much as it’s a manipulative tactic, most often seen when used by pretty girls in the dining hall who forgot their ID card and need some unsuspecting dork to pay for their lunch.  (No disrespect to any dorks out there…this is just how the world works at times.  I’ve found myself in this place many times…I just got lucky and married one of those pretty girls.)  Matty is the master of the cute manipulation.  How do you say no to a slightly smirking little angel who just wants to play with his mommy or daddy?  If you say no, he just looks dejected, eyes falling to the floor, chin hitting his chest, while he mutters under his breath, “That’s okay daddy.”  And he never even makes eye contact…which leaves you (the parent) imagining his little spirit being crushed under the weight of your rejection.  So you quickly jump off the couch and do what you should have done in the first place…go play!