Sunfish: Can I watch a movie?
Me: No sweety, you've got to eat dinner first.
Sunfish (a little whiney): But I wanna watch a movie.
Me: I understand that. But you've got to eat your dinner first.
(several minutes later)
Sunfish: Can I watch a movie?
Me: You need to eat dinner first.
Sunfish (getting a bit worked up): But I wanna watch a movie!
Me: You're not watching a movie until you eat your dinner.
Sunfish (in full woe-is-me mode):
But this isn't the way it's supposed to work!