"You Better Watch Out... Santa is Coming to Town"

I'm not going to lie, Max is a hard child.  So I'm using this Santa thing for all it's worth.  Because Max does want presents.  And he wants to be good so he can get them.  

I was talking to my sister Tammy on the phone.  Max was crying in the background (as usual).  She said something about milking the Santa thing for all it's worth.  I told her I had been.  But I didn't want to go too far, so as not to earn the 'Bad Mommy' award (keep in mind that this is the same sister who told me a few weeks ago that I was probably the worst mom in the world).

She asked to talk to Max on the phone.  After about a second, Max took off running.  I got back on the phone and told her that he took off.  She laughed and said, "He probably just wants presents."

So last night, it was dinner.  Max claimed he wouldn't sit at the table with the rest of us because it was too bright.  And that he would eat at the counter with half a banana.  I put him on time out and told him he could come down when he was ready to eat with the rest of us and try some pork.  

He came down a few minutes later.  He handled the bright lights (not really) but refused to try the pork.  I decided to use the Santa thing.  I picked up the phone and said, "Max, I'm going to call Santa and tell him that you won't try your food."  Max started crying hysterically and screaming, "No, don't call!  No, don't call!"  His eyes were bugging out.  The tears would not stop.  

George looked on and I'm sure was glad that he liked his dinner and would not have to face the same fate as Max.  He did look sympathetic.  The older three, were trying not to laugh (ah, the faith of the unbelievers, maybe...).

I had to put the phone down to calm Max down.  I did not expect the hysterics.  Did he try the pork?  Of course not.  But I dare any of you who has five or more kids to tell me that the last one doesn't get away with murder.

So, did I milk the Santa thing for all it's worth?  Or did I carry it too far?