I am not doing something

Okay, truly my kids sometimes amuse me.

Picture this.

Tana pours some food on the carpet and does not take the initiative to pick up the pieces.

she knows very well, Mum will not be amused but she goes hiding.

So when Mum appears at the sitting room, and honestly not knowing what has happened and for another reason calls out for Tana

This is the answer she gets 

Tana : Mum, I did not do something.

and who said you did something or anything for that matter?

I guess the guilty are always ashamed, its a statement that works well with the kids.
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Mum sends Kendi to get for her some tissue to blow her nose,  the conversation goes something like this;

Mum: Kendi get me some tissue

Kendi  gives a good stare at Mum, eye ball to eye ball and says;

"Mum,you need to say , Kendi get me some tissue PLEASE..."

Okay, I know we have been teaching them, the need to say Please, Sorry and Thank you...but who is the parent here! ha!

So Mum apologizes and says

"Kendi kindly get me some tissue please"

The girl runs for the tissue.

So don't preach water and take wine...they are more keen than you think. Set standards that you are willing to keep.