Thursday: reasoning doesn't work

A: Joshua, can you please push those cords back under the stand?  They're not toys.
---
A: Joshua, don't touch that button [on the power strip]!  Push it back under the stand.
--- Joshua's little finger reaches for the button again.---
A: Joshua, no!  Push it under the stand!
---
---The little finger reaches out.---
A: ok, time out.
---We do time out.---
---We sit together by the cords.  I check to make sure they can easily be pushed back under the stand while Joshua throws a tantrum.---
A: ok Joshua, please push these under the stand.
J: no!
---
A: ok, please push them under the stand.
J: no!
A: ok, you have three choices.  You can push the cords under, throw a tantrum, or go to bed.
J: tantrum!
A: ok.
I: Joshua, you can push the cords in.  It's easy-peasy!
--Joshua slowly calms down, but still refuses to push the cords in.---
A: ok Joshua, do you want to push the cords in or go to bed?
J: bed.
A: ok.

After Joshua was in bed Isaac and I ate some cake.