One of the reasons I started this new blog is to keep a journal of things Eli does or says that we are likely to forget about when we’re older. There are already so many precious memories that I’ve lost. That thing he said that one time when… It’s almost there, I just can’t grasp it… What was that about?

Not that we can possibly capture and hold every moment, but I’m sure that whatever we can manage to capture will not be enough. So for today’s post, I want to record a few things I do remember very clearly and don’t ever want to forget.

All around the theme of Eli being a great negotiator.

But I’m Not Eating With This Hand…

Story one. Actually, before I begin, there is one thing about this story that I don’t recall clearly, and that’s when exactly it occurred. (You see, I should have written it down then!) He was probably about a year and a half old.

I had given him my spare laptop to use. He would sit as his little table and watch kids videos on YouTube. By himself. He knew how to turn on the computer, start the browser, click the bookmark, navigate the page to find the best video to watch, click on it, and play and control it.

He also snacked at the table. One time, it was something greasy, like bacon. So I tell him he has to stop using the computer while he eats his snack so he doesn’t get the computer all greasy.

With one greasy hand gripping a piece of meat on its way toward being inserted into his mouth, he pauses, holds up his other hand, and says approximately, both in words and body language:

But I’m eating with this hand. I’m not eating with this hand, see? So I won’t get the pumpyooter dirty.

And I’m left standing there trying to think now of some argument to justify enforcing my “no eating at the computer” rule, while he’s looking up at me so seriously with his big brown eyes, waiting for my response…

What could I do? The kid got to watch Umizoomi–or whatever he was into at that time (which is one of those details that, along with what it was he was actually eating for this story, it wouldn’t be worth taking the time to jot down, since it’s not particularly relevant to the point, which I shall now return you to…)–and eat his bacon, too.

***

Now, you know what? I was going to record a few more memories in this post, but I think you’ve had quite enough for one day. If you want more like that, you’ll just have to wait until my next post. To be continued as “Eli the Negotiator: Part II”…