Fortune Cookie Obedience

Lily and I were sharing fortune cookies after lunch today. She cracked hers open and asked me to read the message for her. I read it to myself and decided it wasn't appropriate for her. She had really been testing me, so I instead read, "Happily obey your mommy at all times". She smiled really big and said, "Okay". Then she added that she was sorry for disobeying me earlier. I thought, wow, this is going better than expected. She actually obeyed me pretty quickly following this fortune. Then she asked me what my fortune said. So I told her it said, "Treat your baby sister with love and kindness." She immediately went to find Jade a toy and brought it to her! This is usually the child that takes toys away from Jade, leaving her crying! I was really enjoying this new found obedience. Fortune cookies may become a staple in our home! I'm hoping it will continue after nap time. I wonder why this strategy wasn't ever mentioned in my favorite parenting book, Shepherding a Child's Heart!?!