My daughter rarely does anything simple. Simplicity is, I'm sure, beneath those belonging to the 'tween set. I'm sure many parents of 'tweens have experienced this, right? Surely, I can't be the only one! (You are the only one, and don't call me Shirley)

Take, for example, what happened this morning. It was bemusing, to say the least.

~ ~ ~
(from the kitchen)

cough, cough, cough

haaaaack

Me: "Cover your mouth!"

(muffled) cough, hack, wheeeeeze

She walks into the living room, where I am piddle-farting around on the computer, looks at the wall (the WALL, people) and says, exasperatedly,

"I wish I had some cough syrup [dramatic pause as she glances towards me for, I don't know, effect]... or something."

She waits two seconds for my response, and when I don't immediately react to her pleas, she throws her hands up in the hair, groans loudly, pivots on her pretty little feet, and stomps out of the room.

Gee, do you think she wanted something? Did you... did you hear something?

I wait for her to come back and ask me nicely, because, well, I'm no big fan of what just transpired, and I'd rather not feel played in this manner. Mom is not a puppet on strings. I prefer direct questions and insults (if any insults are warranted, that is).

She does, eventually, realize I didn't buy it and works up the courage to ask me properly for the cough syrup.

Silly 'tween.

cough, hack, wheeze