Don't SAY that to me.

I did it.  I stooped to her level today.  Gah!  I can't believe I fell for the old one two.

Layla was grumpy when she got up.  She was grumpy when I picked her up.  And we have a long car ride home together.  She didn't even make it to the car before starting.  Two steps down the stairs and she refused to go any further.  I had to carry her to the car, but she wouldn't tell me what was wrong.  Apparently she had colored a picture today and she wanted me to give it to her.  Fine, whatever.  I found it and gave it to her.  Then she started in with Evie.  She took her toy, wouldn't give her any crackers, started hitting at her with the picture.   You know, being three.

I went through the whole dog whisperer routine and internal chanting of several mantras before finally snapping at her.  When she dropped the picture and directed me to "gimme that", I had reached my breaking point.

"Layla, I'm not giving you anything when you talk to me like that.  You have got to stop being so bratty".

The child gasped as if she had been punched in the gut, gave a full exaggerated face of false shock, grabbed at her heart and proclaimed "Ah!  Don't SAY that to me".

"Then stop being a little jerk".

More gasping and sputtering brought me "You can't say that to me, I'm gonna tell my daddy".

"You know what, Layla?  Let's do that.  Let's call him right now and tell him all about how big of a jerk you're being right now.  Here, I'll dial".

And I did.  Fortunately Mike didn't answer his phone, cause then I would have really looked stupid.

Yep.  I was THAT parent.  Stupid kid.  But she WAS being a jerk.