scenes from a parenthood

Overheard around town:

"Can I have another donut?"
"No, Morgan, you had two whole donuts already."
"Please, just one more?"
"Morgan, no! You've had enough donuts and we want you to have room for dinner!"
"Please?"
"No, but you can have some fruit when we get home?"
"So can I have another donut later?"
"Yes, you can."
"Promise?"
"I promise you can have another donut later."

...

"Can I have another donut now?"
"No, we told you, you had two donuts already."
"But you promised I could have another donut later!"
"Morgan, we meant you could have another donut much later."
"I promise you can have another donut someday later in your life."
"When?"
"After dinner."
"I was thinking more like when you're fifteen."

...

"Can I have another donut now?"
"No! Morgan! Are you actually listening to us? Or are the words just, like, passing through your hair and out the back of the car?"
"No, but my mind is just losing them."
"Fair enough."

...

There are days when I actually pine for having the difficult conversations with my kids.