Conversation With My Daugther

"Mommy, I want to sing a sing," Josie said as she sat next to me on the couch.

"Ok, how 'bout If You're Happy and You Know It?" I asked with as much as enthusiasm as I could gather after a long day.

"Yes!" She said and got her hands ready to participate.

"If you're happy and you know it," I started slow enough so that she could catch up and sing along.

"No!" She said and crossed her arms in front her. "I want to sing MYSELF!"

"Josie," I said and looked down at her disapprovingly. "How to you tell me nicely that you want to sing by yourself?"

"Mommy can I sing by myself?" she asked in her high pitched interpreation of a well behaved child.

"That would make me so happy," I said and sat back to watch my independent child serenade me.

"If you're happy and you know it GO AWAY!" she said and stared straight into my eyes in case there was any confusion about which happy person she wanted to go away.