The Negotiator

Luke gets three stories at bedtime while he sits on mom's or dad's lap. Tonight our second book got interrupted when something fell down in the kitchen and he insisted that we had to go investigate. When we got back to his room, he didn't want to sit back on my lap. Instead he wanted me to read him the rest of his books while he sat in his bed. I didn't think that was a good idea; when he departs from his routine like that it's harder for him to settle down and go to sleep.

D: Lucas, can't you sit back on my lap?
L: I don't want to. Read to me on the beddie.
D: Lucas, I really don't like that as much. Can't you sit on my lap for your books?
L: No, want you to read to me on the beddie.
D: Lucas, I think we should read on my lap. I think it will help you relax better so you can go to sleep.
L: (thinks) Read to me one book on your lap, and one book on the beddie.
D: (surprised) Well, Lucas, that's a really good idea. Why don't we do that. We'll finish this book on my lap, and then you can read your third book on the bed.
L: OK (comes over to sit on my lap)

I thought it was an excellent compromise he proposed, and he seemed very happy when I accepted his idea.

Unfortunately, it turns out that I was right about the difficulty of settling down; it was a lot harder to get him to sleep after reading his last book on the bed....(I suppose I should have reversed the order.) But it was still worth it!