Who are the best negotiators?

Who are the best negotiators around, you may ask? No, neither you nor me. Children are the best negotiators. Observe them when you have the opportunity. Children have pronounced body language, unspoiled from the pressures of grown-up life. Children also have not yet developed effective defensive strategies, such as hiding dishonesty or putting a facade over their personality preferences. I can confidently say that my sons have taught me a lot over the years. Here is a little story to illustrate:

One winter evening, around 8:00 at night, I was sitting in the living room of our house in rural Virginia. My wife tended to our baby in the kid’s room upstairs. My four-year-old son sat on my lap while I was reading him a story. It was one of Grimm’s fairy tales, and he was mesmerized. “Then the witch died,” I concluded, “and the moral of the story…” My wife called down from the upstairs bedroom.

“It’s eight o’clock,” she shouted. “Fabian has to go to bed.” Before I could make the first move to get up, Fabian grabbed my cheeks with his little hands.

“Papi,” he said, “you are the best Papi in the whole wide world!” He gave me a kiss. “I love you!” My heart was melting. He continued: “Papi, will you read me one more story?” Pressure or partnership? It was a diabolical combination of both. Was my brain fully connected? No. Was this communication from the Free Child? Absolutely! Needless to say, of course I read another story… perhaps two.