a sign of times to come???

Is it a bad sign that even at such a tender young age Emma is particularly argumentative with her mother? It came as a fairly big surprise to me one day when I realized that she was indeed arguing with me. Our “arguments” usually go something like this:

While riding in th car, she sees a a cow that she called a “horsey.”
“Cow,” I replied.
“Horsey.”
“Cow.”
“Horsey.”
“Cow.”

Doesn't really seem like an argument, does it? But when you consider the following conversation, you may change your mind. One morning, I walked into her bedroom wearing an Eeyore nightshirt. She looked at it and said, “cow.”
“Eeyore,” I replied.
“Cow.”
“Eeyore.”
“Cow.”
“Eeyore.”
“No! Cow!”

I guess I shouldn’t be too worried yet. But I can’t help wondering if one day the argument will sound more like this:

“Hi Mom! My friend just got her driver’s license and her parents said she could drive us to Portland for the day, so I’m going.”
“No, you’re not,” I reply.
“Yes, I am.”
“No, you’re not.”
“Yes, I am.”
“No, you’re not!”
“YES, I AM!!”


















Oh, dear Lord, have mercy!