The Monkey

8:41pm: Elena the legal genius
Today I learned that I don't think being a lawyer is fun,* but unfortunately I'm raising a lawyer-in-training.

This is the conversation that I had with Elena earlier this evening:
Me: You can't watch a show because I said that you couldn't watch a show unless you played well with Jasper until he went to bed.
Elena (looking shocked): I WAS playing well with Jasper.
Me: Grabbing Jasper and pinching and pushing him is not playing well.
Elena: I was playing well with Jasper when I was playing with him. When I was pinching and pushing him, I wasn't playing with him, I was fighting with him.

There was more conversation which involved me trying to hold my ground, but as soon as she said that, I knew that I would give her another chance (and I did) because she was technically right. I explained that if she is playing well with him, there is no fighting. She seemed genuinely amazed by that. And afterwards, they played beautifully together.


*Or rather, I've known this for a long time, but was forced today to disclose it

8:51pm: Pre-quel
I asked Elena what she learned today at her violin lesson. She was playing "echo bush" so she asked me what I learned today at violin. I told her I didn't go to violin. What did you learn today, Mommy? She asked over and over. And she persisted:
Elena: Did you learn ANYTHING today?
Me: Yes, I learn something every day.
Elena: What did you learn about today?
Me: What did you learn about today?
Elena: Italy.
Me: What did you learn about Italy?
Elena: What did you learn about today?
Me: (sigh) Insurance
Elena: What's insurance?
Me: ???
Elena: What did you learn about insurance?
Me: Uhhh.....
Elena: What did you learn about insurance?
etc., etc., until:
Me: That it is not fun.