When we parked at the ocean today, I stuffed a nearby backpack with some snacks, drinks, sunscreen, and changes of clothing for the smallest kids.
I was already going to be lugging my own bag plus doing some hand-holding on our short walk to the beach, so I thrust the backpack toward Ambrose.
“Here,” I told him, “You carry this please.”
“Uhhh … are you kidding me?”
Startled by his unwillingness, I thrust it yet again in his direction.
“I am not kidding. You carry this.”
He backed away from my hand. I looked at the backpack.
The hot pink Dora the Explorer backpack.
He was off the hook.