Manipulation

It hasn't started yet, but it's coming... the kid will begin manipulation tactics today. Her boyfriend, that lives across town (and I mean ACROSS town - over an hour or more away), has been invited to "spend the night" with another friend on our side of town. Wonder who manipulated that??

Of course, the boyfriend, Brandon, doesn't have a car. So, he can't drive over. The manipulated friend who is doing the inviting doesn't have a car. My child, aka The Manipulator, does.

Problem here is she knows she is NOT allowed to drive across town... even though she has already done it once... sneakily. Not sneaklily enough - she got caught and in trouble.

So, The Manipulator comes to me to tell me how Brandon was invited to spend the night with Josh... maybe even two nights. But, how will he get there??? My answer was... doesn't he have parents??

Seems to me if Josh is doing the inviting, shouldn't he worry about picking up his own guest? Of course not! He's just being manipulated.

The Manipulator turns 17 tomorrow. I told her if Brandon's folks would meet halfway, I would consider going that far. Doubt this will happen.

She doesn't know I still have Brandon's mother's phone number... bwahahahahah!

She will need years of practice to beat me at this game...but she might wear me down before she gets there.