Mateo, three, is seen in the video reasoning with his mother - who he calls Linda - and explaining that as he'd already eaten lunch, he didn't need a proper dinner.
His mother, Linda Beltran, recorded the hilarious argument on her mobile phone, with Mateo looking up at her and saying 'Linda, honey, honey, lookit, look at this,' in a manner that belies his three years.
After he had tried his luck with Linda, little Mateo moves onto his Grandma, who would also not indulge his request for cupcakes.
Linda explains that Mateo began using his parent's first names when they visited a theme park and came across a little boy who had lost his family - but didn't know their names as he only referred to them as Mommy and Daddy.
Thinking their boys might find themselves in a similar situation, Linda and her husband Kenneth told Mateo and their other son their first names.
'In an effort to raise my kids with a voice, I pick my battles and sometimes let them feel like they've won'
'For the most part we are still Mommy and Daddy, but when he is serious and wants to make sure we are paying attention, we quickly become Linda and Kenneth.'
And despite Mateo's argumentative ways, Linda insists he is respectful of his parents.
'The boys know when mom is serious and when they can engage in some healthy debate. In an effort to raise my kids with a voice, I pick my battles and sometimes let them feel like they've won…or at least give them the chance to try!'
Do you have a similar parenting technique? Do you think it's important to teach your children how to argue their corner? Or does this encourage bad behaviour?