No Jury Would Blame Me

When Ryan (now 7) was 5 we laughed and said we didn’t know if we should send him to Kindergarten or law school. Really, grades K-College just seem like a formality to get him to a point where he can use his God-given skills of debate. I would welcome formal debate training so that his arguments would be formed with a bit more framework. Right now Ryan’s arguments are not what you would call factual. Dramatic? Yes! Logical? Not so much. Yet, his persistency and volume are very persuasive. So persuasive that you just want to run out of the room, crawl into bed, put a pillow over your head and stay there in the quiet bliss forever and ever…not that anyone would ever do that. What is it in a child that creates such antagonism? I say it is time to go. He says without missing a beat: No, we have 5 more minutes. I said it was time to go. I say that you need to eat your dinner if you want dessert. He says without taking a breath: How many more bites do I need to eat? I said eat. I say that school work needs to be completed before play. He says without batting an eye: I don’t turn this assignment in tomorrow so I don’t need to do it now. I said do what I say before I end up on the 6 o’clock news! I had to break it to him that the Nirvana is not a democracy. Yep, tough break. I squashed all dissenting opinions with a far-reaching time-out policy. I have found that although it hasn’t ended debate, I do get a break during the time-out. Another side effect of my debate censorship has appeared… Ryan has taken to debating people who don’t rush him to time-out. This is what was happening at my breakfast table this morning: Rhett(3): I like toast with peanutbutter and jam. Ryan(7): No you don’t. Yes I do! Nope, you aren’t telling the truth. I LOOOOOOVE it. You don’t like it at all. I do. Ryan (slightly grinning): You are lying. Rhett (tears streaming down face): Mommy! Ryan called me a liar! Really. I would tune in to the news tonight if I were you…