a Mother of Discipline

Exactly a year ago when we were getting ready for the Halloween, Sienna was already warming up with the idea of being a princess. I could still manage to make her a Tiger Princess on the scary night. This year, she just wants to be a princess, or Cinderella, the princess to be, to be more exact. As soon as we came back from our trip to China, she started to ask me for the Cinderella dress and sandals. "I want it, right now," she would demand. I, the "Bad Mama" (that's how I read "Step Mother" instead), immediately took this as an opportunity to threaten and to bribe.

I alternated between "Do this, You will get you Cinderella dress" and "Don't do that, you are not going to have your Cinderella dress." It came to an evening when she insisted that she have another piece of candy after quite a few treats. We were having friends around the table, I flashed my card again, "You can choose to have the candy now or you will have your Cinderella dress for the Halloween." She went with the candy because it was already in her mouth. Anyone would have chosen the candy. Let's work on the mommy for the dress later, right? The thing is 2 weeks have passed and the scary night is fast approaching, Sienna never mentioned even once about the dress.

Is she such a girl of discipline that she sticks to her decision? Or am I such a mother of discipline that she knows it stands no chance with me once my words are uttered?

I came across the blue Cinderella dress today at the department store. I am buying it for her for sure. Just what do I say to keep my image of a mother of discipline at work?