Eric Berne, in T.A. or Transactional Analyis, always referred to the three personailities in all of us; Adult, Child and parent.

The adult; rational. Intuitive, responsible. The parent ; nurturing, guiding OR controlling. The child playful, testing, challenging.

The key, Berne said - to a successful relationship with others is to keep it parallel. Adult to adult. Parent to parent. Child to child. Even as we get older...if we cross these "relationships" too often...we f up.

Good basic info. Check out this powerpoint or google Transactional Analysis for more.

[docs.google.com]

That's not the half of it.

Once I hand Petunia her coffee, we go through the potential breakfast menu I could prepare for her with her whinning "I don't know" along with the confused look of "Nooooo....."

"Reheated quiche?"

"I don't know"

"Left over biscuits with freshly made sausage gravy?"

"I don't know"

"Instant oatmeal with brown sugar?"

"I don't know"

"Cold cereal? How about the whole oats with almond stuff?

"I don't know"

"Chocolate cake with your coffee?"

"I don't know"

"I could re-heat the chicken al king and serve it over garlic toast."

"Noooo....."

"Reheat the home made chili?"

"Nooooo...." Look of disgust follows.

"Scrambled eggs and toast?"

""I don't know"

Urge to kill rises. Profanity looms.