I am not a fan of negotiation. It stresses me out, especially when it comes to exchanging money or goods. Sure, I can negotiate with my husband about our schedules of kid-watching so we can be grown-ups/eatwithtwohands/gotothebathroomalone with the best of ’em. And sometimes I get my Mama negotiation skills out with our tiny human, who, for someone so small, seems to be very well versed in this department.

But most of the time, trying to make a trade just makes me twitch. I either feel like a jerk for demanding too much or like I am about to get the short end of the stick because I will do almost anything to avoid major confrontation. [Read more…]