Guest ettiquette: Sozlet's fish revisited.

Well, that was routine for us, the saying of 'Would you like more spaghetti', and then 'I don't care'. That you don't get it is only a good sign.

just a random thought from my working days. the ages fro 6 to 12 (often called "latency" and generally only thought of as pre-pubescence also incorporates the rudiments of "manipulation" which is a very positive development but often confusing to parents, the child is no longer automatic a controlling entitiy for meeting his/her needs and begins to learn positive techniques for manipulating care givers as well as peers and authorities to achieve wants/desires and needs. this is a often overlooked developmental task but one which can provide skills thought ones life. success in life is more than not simply good manipulative skills (getting what you want while others feel they have been more than fairly treated and applaud your success. an odd characteristic of our culture is that the child that does not succeed at skillful manipulation will be negatively labeled as "manipulative."

mmmm.

That was the way I took it - a confused kid that was showed a certain type of politeness from his parents but got it twisted a bit. That is why I suggested (depending how close you are to his parents) to let them know.