minding ps and qs

yesterday while cooking dinner (usually the worst time for behavior), i overheard stover girl helping stover boy play her v-reader.  stover boy was listening intently and compliantly to her instruction while stover girl engaged in storybook language like 'oh- would you like help with that?' and 'you're doing such a great job'.  i took photos unnoticed but called out compliments from the kitchen while smiling during this magical exchange. 

within a few minutes, stover boy reverted to his usual grumpy, trouble-making, hungry behavior and stover girl as well reverted to her sassy, bossy end of the day behavior but now armed with what she felt was validation.  she became a broken record of 'i've been nice to you all day and so helpful- you need to be nice too.'  'i've been nice to you all day- now i'm mad at you.'  'i've been nice to you all day- can you be nice now too?'  'i've been nice to you all day and i'm so sick of it.' the chants were heard the rest of the evening (far outlasting the 15 minutes of manners)... so much for complimenting the effort!