Who's in Charge Here, Anyway?

We don't call him the little tyrant for nothing. Lil' Wingnut is just too smart for his own britches. He's too smart for our britches. His antics either leave us shaking our heads in disbelief and/or laughing secretly.

Recently his newest obsession has been playing Candyland. Woe to the little girl who happens to defeat him in a supposedly friendly game. He's been known to throw the board and all it's pieces in a fit of rage over the "obvious" cheating of his sisters. Ya know, it's near to impossible to convince a 4 year old that his sisters are not cheating and that he just had bad luck in drawing a bad card.

Lately he's been taking over control of the family rosary. He leads the opening prayers, chooses who will pray each decade, and jumps in to pray for the Holy Father's intentions. For now we are letting this stand, as at least he is wanting to pray the rosary and he's learning more of the prayers each day. Is there such a thing as holy tyranny?

The lil' man is very concerned with "who is in charge". When Dad is around I get an earful of why I let him be in charge as I am a full two months older than Wingnut, and shouldn't the oldest be in charge? When Wingnut is traveling all is right in Lil' Wingnut's world, as I'm in charge. How does one go about explaining the concept of wifely submission to a preschooler who has preconceived ideas about leadership?

Ever read Oedipus Rex in high school? We have a slightly less creepy version occurring in our own home. Lil' Wingnut, sweet as can be and in front of his father, innocently asked, "When Daddy dies, will you marry me?" Um, yeah, we've got a bit of a problem.