Don't Try This at Your Home

Situation: It was afternoon. Everyone was calm. Everyone was playing contentedly. I had an hour and a half until I had to leave to pick up the school kids.

And then I made a mistake. I pulled out a project.

I had been working on a blanket for my daughter and was almost finished with the edges, so I thought I could work on it while the younger kids played. I would be in the same room, but I would be productive. Not a bad deal, right?

Wrong.

As soon as I got the blanket upstairs, it had kids climbing on it, trying to roll up in it, climbing under it, and playing peek-a-boo, all while I tried to keep it still so I could WORK on it. My plan was definitely not working. I almost got really upset, and then I took a minute to "observe" the situation from a distance.

I had a toddler who was content but definitely starting to get tired -- who was quickly approaching nap time and who loves to snuggle blankets when he's tired. Here was a really comfortable blanket, completely spread out on the floor, as if calling to him. Put those things together, and it doesn't matter what mom's objective is. The blanket gets used for nap time.

I actually laughed at the absurdity of my thinking I could actually work on the blanket while this particular child was tired. What was I thinking!?!

Lesson learned. DUH.

The Punch Line, Continued

A couple of fun things, thanks to the punch line:

My brothers were visiting us and one came down with his high school wrestling sweatshirt on. "Punch Line" was eating breakfast, looked at him, and commented that it looked like he was ready to wrestle.

"Yep, I'm wearing my wrestling shirt. I guess I'm ready to wrestle."

"I have boxer shorts, but I don't have a boxer shirt." (That's it. Then he went back to eating.)

***********

Later, my oldest was commenting that he was so tired his back was sort of hurting then said that we needed to go visit my other brother. I asked why, and he said, "He gives massages."

"Punch line" seemed shocked and confused, then blurted, "WHAT?!? He gives us sausage?!? Is that supposed to help your back?!?"

Um, no. But that might be a fun advertising gimmick -- free sausages with your massages.