Manipulation.

Iliya has become really good at manipulation...or, he's trying to become really good at it. He has a good way to go before he becomes convincing enough. But I have to give him credit where credit is due...he's very creative in his attempts!

Enter the dog.

Remember how I said there is a bond there? Well, sometimes that bond is sort of like a sibling bond in that Iliya tends to compete with Gracie....and sometimes, it's the funniest thing ever.

Take for instance Iliya always wanting to take medicine. I guess there is danger in him always being such a good medicine taker (some parents complain about their children not wanting to take medicine, but so far, in our 2+ years with Iliya, we've never come up against a medicine he won't take).

Earlier last week, Gracie was diagnosed with a UTI, and has to take 14 days of antibiotics. She is not a great medicine taker, so to make things easy on myself, I wrap her 2 pills in either ham or cheese...which makes her a good medicine taker. Since she has to take the medicine with food, Iliya is usually in there after feeding her breakfast.

Anyway, the other day, Iliya was watching me give Grace her medicine in a piece of ham...

Iliya: Mama, I not feel so well.

Me: Why?

Iliya: I'm sick.

(of course, with all the flu going around, my mama worry kicks in every time he says something like this)

Me: Well, what makes you think you are sick?

Iliya: I drank too much water.

Me: Oh, well, I'm sorry. What should we do about that?

Iliya: I think I need some medicine.

Me: (knowing where this is going) Oh really? What kind of medicine do you think you need?

Iliya: A piece of ham.

And of course, I'm probably wrong in rewarding him with a piece of ham, but I didn't see any harm in giving him a piece. Of course, I made sure to tell him that he doesn't have to fake being sick to get a piece of ham, he merely has to ask for a piece.

I don't know that it sunk in, though, because after he devoured a piece of ham, he looked up at me and said, "Mama...I'm not sick anymore. I feel much better."