It was okay that Stella was addicted to my Crystal Geyser “blue water” – after all, it was just regular old non-caloric water with bubbles in it. However, I can’t bring myself to get her addicted to my juice (my secret diversion from plain old water that I treat myself with once or twice a day). Yes it is 100% juice mixed with sparkling water, but it somehow brushes up against that soda pop line a little too closely, and I just don’t want to have to start explaining why one thing is okay to drink all the time and another is just a special treat. I know you know what I am talking about. So, I have done what any parent faced with an ever smarter and more inquisitive child would do and I stealthily pour it into an opaque cup, and hope she doesn’t notice it and ask for a drink. Which, as anyone who ever reads this site knows, is a deeply flawed plan.

It became ever so obvious how misguided my plan is today when I was sitting at the computer with my covert beverage at my side, and Stella looks at me and points at my cup asking, “What dat?” To which I respond, “It’s water.” To which she responds:

“Why it taste like juice?”

Let the tally begin:

Stella: 1
Mom: 0