A big sacrifice...

The other day I was having yet another not-so-successful conversation with Big Sister, trying to convince her that she would have a great time at school. She insisted that she was going to stay at home. When I reminded her that Little Sister would be at "school" and that Daddy & Mommy would both be at work, it didn't phase her.

"That's ok. The dogs will take care of me," she said.

Ha. I bet they will. I quickly put the images of Al-dog herding her around the house while Sophie chewed on everything in sight out of my head and reminded her that she had to have a grown-up with her.

"Call a baby-sitter." Smart kid. Except we are already paying someone to watch you. At school. I'm not going to pay someone else to stay with you and pay tuition so you can stay home from school- and then I said one of my often overused Mommy lines: "That would cost too much money."

After a few questions about how much money ( Two dollars? As much as our car? Is it five dollars?) she finally gave up on that option. "I'll just stay here by myself. I'll be fine. I'm almost four years old."

I was growing tired of this, so I tried to end the discussion as quickly as possible. I told her that I wanted to keep her safe, that she needed a grown-up to look after her, and that she still needed to be a little older than four to stay home by herself. And, even if I thought she could be by herself, it was against the law. Did she want Mommy & Daddy to go to jail?

I had made my point. I got her socks and began to help her get them on. She was obviously still thinking about what I had just said. Then, with a sigh, she said, "I really don't want to go to school...

How long would you be in jail?"

Big Sister, staying at home. (Hence the PJs)