We were duped and swindled by egotistical souls this weekend.  Like any good manipulators the stooges kept silent, working as a team relying only on body language, to execute their plan.  No words, or giggles, not even a peep was heard when the opportunity arrived to betray us fools.

My husband and I never felt so taken advantage of before, as parents.  It marked the beginning of a new era for us.  The one where children outsmart their parents with precision and wit for self promotion.  Not too long ago I skipped through that era myself as a child with complete confidence.  My mother was right all along.  You reap what you sow, or in Polish: "I hope you have children just. like. you. one day!"

You see, on Saturday our three children each had two snack-sized McFlurries within one hour.  And we had no idea.

The children inhaled their first snack-sized frozen delights courtesy of my husband, "You've been so good at Grandma and Grandpas. Don't tell Mom that I'm treating you guys before dinner.  Let's keep it a secret."  I knew it was odd when my husband called me from his car on the way home to the dinner I was slaying over and I actually heard his voice.  "Why is it so quiet?" I thought to myself while shucking corn.  After dinner each one of the kids placed their empty plates in the sink.  "Let's have a family movie night!"  I ushered them into my minivan to pick up our RedBox rental.  "You've been so good and ate all your food.  Don't tell Daddy that I'm wasting money on junk food."  The children then silently devoured their second snack-sized treat.

"You've got to be kidding me!"  My husband greeted us upon our arrival home.  Thinking he had developed some supernatural x-ray vision powers while we were gone and noticed the JCrew shopping bags buried underneath soccer gear in the minivan trunk, I threw my hands up and self consciously screamed "Whaaaaaaaat?!?"

"They just had those an hour ago."  He pointed to the three empty cup containers I was holding.  "They didn't say anything to you?"

"Nope.  Nada."  I shook my head.  "Why would you treat them before dinner, my love?"  Giggle.  Giggle.  Giggle.  The three stooges were filled with a sudden case of belly aching laughs.  "We had ice cream twice today!!!"  Giggle.  Giggle.  Giggle.

"Unbelievable."  Both of us, flabbergasted, stood before our three master manipulators with sticky smiles and realized that they had successfully pushed us into another era.  One we were obviously not prepared for.  "I can't believe they didn't say anything."  I scratched my head.  "I can't believe they pulled it off."  My husband admitted.  "I knew that preaching about siblings sticking together would come back and haunt me."  And so I, a tiny bit proud of their camaraderie, scolded them in Polish and buckled my seat belt ready for what's next.

I hoping my mother was wrong and they are nothing like me.