The Pee-Pee incident

This afternoon, I spent the better part of 2 hours trying to convince a clever, adorable 4 year old to pee in a cup. Please, for the love of all things, please pee-in-the-CUP!!! She wasn't on strike against the actual cup, or even against the actual PEEING part of the request. She found humor in the fact that I insisted on it.

(F.Y.I. My office serves as a child-friendly investigation center and medical office for child abuse victims.. which sometimes requires urine samples)

I tried being sweet. I tried being funny. I even tried bribery. But, no, this four year old could not be bought. We made a pact.. pee in the cup, and she would recieve: 1 brand new toy of her choice, 1 tub of any color play-doh of her choice, a huge handful of chocolate (including Reeses cups, Kit-Kats, and Pixi-stix), and a pack of crayons. To this she replies.. "I triiieeeeddddd". In fact, she did try. Four juice boxes and five bathroom visits later, and still.. no pee. I feel a little cheap, attempting to bribe a 4 year old.. but hey, the pee needed to be in the cup!

(For those of you who don't know my job, as a child advocate, is pretty much like daycare.. except the children range from 1-17 years old)

When all was said and done, by 4:59, there was indeed pee in the cup. I'm very proud of that little girl... she is as stubborn as I am. It's strange to look into the eyes of the four-year-old-You, and beg them to be grown-up. Most of the time they're just begging to be four years old.