Conversations with Leyla

I am desperately trying to get Leyla to watch less TV. We did good for about a week and then we slid back into the old habit. So now we are starting over, again. I told her to pick 3 shows. She listed her favorites: My Little Pony, Backyardigans, and Peppa. Then first thing in the morning, she wants to watch TV. But, when I turn it on and it's not one of those three - I make sure she understands that if she watches Curious George, for example, she can't watch My Little Pony. She agrees. Then two hours later she's begging me to watch another show. I don't think she gets it.

So today, after Lucas finally fell asleep for his nap, we went into her room (reluctantly) to find something else to do. She picked out her Dora coloring book and some crayons. I started coloring Dora's hair pink. Of course she got really mad because Dora's hair is supposed to be brown. And her backpack isn't yellow, it's purple. There's no being creative here! After awhile she got into it though, and let me color Dora all kinds of colors including red and yellow eyes. I called my masterpiece "Zombie Dora." HA! Here's the conversation we had:

Leyla: Here mommy, I'll take the pretty colors. You can have the black ones. (She gave me all the dark colored crayons).
Me: Oh wow, thanks Leyla, how nice of you.
Leyla: You're welcome.

I colored the trees blue and orange.

Leyla: Oh Mommy, that is so cute!

We colored a princess in a high tower.

Leyla: Look mommy that door is locked. Mommy look there is water, the princess can't get out because there is water.
Me: That's right, she's surrounded by water. Maybe we can draw a bridge so she can escape. Can you draw a bridge?
Leyla: Okay (She drew a very nice bridge)
Me: What a good bridge you drew. Now let's color the water blue.
Leyla: Now she can get out!
Me: But how we'll she get down to the bridge? We should draw some stairs. Or, I know, let's draw a ladder (I drew a ladder).
Leyla: But mommy, she's in a window...
Me: Right, that's why I'm drawing a ladder.
Leyla: Noooo we have to draw stairs! (She knocks my hand away). I know, I have an idea. (She colors over my ladder, exactly like a ladder). Now She can go down the stairs!
Me: Oh good job Leyla, we saved the day just like Dora.
Leyla: Yay! I saved the day!

Oh, Leyla.