Don’t ever promise your kid a special surprise for brushing their teeth. If you do, it will surely backfire. Last night in my daily struggle to get my three-year-old daughter’s teeth brushed, I said I would take her to get a cupcake after school today. That was the special surprise. Not so much a surprise, but a bribe. She interpreted this as, “When I wake up my mommy will have a fantastical special surprise waiting for me like my very own rainbow, a glittery dress, or a new puppy.” You know, something reasonable. So how could I disappoint her when she just wanted the best surprise in the whole entire world because she brushed her teeth the night before? Think, Jenna…think…what could I surprise her with that would possibly live up to her expectations? She loves chocolate and she loves sprinkles. Her teeth can afford a little sugar because hey, they were brushed within the last 24 hours. That’s it! I’ve got it! Chocolate ice cream in a cone with rainbow sprinkles!!! Game, Set, Match! Who cares that it’s only 6:45 in the morning?
So I prepared said ice cream cone, and she was dually pleased and surprised.
Two licks and five sprinkles later. She was done.
I ate the rest of it.
Good morning to me.

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