Isabel and Maia Learn the Art of Sincere Deception

Isabel and Maia have been trying to organise their parents for about 3 weeks now. Every time I go to pick up Maia she says 'Can Isabel come to my house today?' When I say 'No darling, but I can call Isabel's mother and we will have her to play another day' she says, 'Well, can I go to Isabel's house then?'

I just talked to Paula (Isabel's mum) on the phone to arrange an afternoon playing at their house. She tells me that it is exactly the same for her - everytime she goes to nursery, she encounters A Maia and An Isabel determined to go to anyone's house, as long as it is together.

Last week, they managed to convince the nursery staff that Maia was going round to Isabel's for tea. They had begun talking about it early in the day, and were so convinced, so sincere, that the staff believed them. When Paula came to collect Isabel, she found Maia there, in her coat, all ready to go. Maia was gently told that it wasn't going to happen, and that she had to go home with her own mummy that day.

Apparently she wasn't too distressed. She may have been experiencing the toddler equivalent of 'It's a fair cop, guv...'