Kids are funny. Bet you already knew that. Seriously, I could talk all day about how silly these little offspring of mine are, but since that's not fun for anyone other than myself, I'll write them down and you can read them....if you want.
Story #1:
I picked Claire up from the bus stop and asked her how school was. I do this every day and usually get the same uninformative answer of "I don't know, Mom". Then I have to be very specific about my asking. "Did you sit at the green or blue table?" "Did you color or paint?" You know, vital questioning. On this particular day, I asked my question and got a response of....
Claire: "(SIGH).....I'm SOOO tired of telling you how school was."
Me: "Oh? Well, I really like to know what you did during the day."
Claire: "But I'm just so so so tired of it."
Me: "Well, alright. I guess you don't have to tell me."
Claire: "Yeah. I'm tired of it right now, so I'll tell you when we get home."
Story #2"
My brother gave me his iphone 4s and I'm eternally grateful. Since this brother is eternally addicted to cookies, I'm paying him for this gift in cookies. One box of mailed home made cookies each month for 6 months (I know....I'm sooooo sweet, aren't I). The other day, we realized that November is falling away and passing too quickly and we had to get them sent asap or else he'd be at Thanksgiving dinner eating way too many sweets and not in need of any cookies at all.
There we were, Monday afternoon, friends over, cookies baked, an all around good feeling. We ate a hefty amount per person and called it good. Luckily I had set Jason's cookies to the side for shipping and they were left unscathed. After a little while of mom gabbing, we got up to round up the children for the playdate to end. As I peered in the kitchen, almost two dozen cookies from the cooling rack had disappeared. Vanished. Not a trace. We walked back to the kids' room, opened the door and asked, "Did you guys eat ALL those cookies???" Claire, with a mouthful and chewing responded with a smile and a nod. Henry ran to the closet with two cookies in hand while Jared lifted his cookie in the air as if toasting to the occasion and took a bite. They all looked pleased. I repeated the question. "ALL of the cookies? All of them?" Once again Claire nodded, smiled, swallowed, and said,"YES!"
Then Henry poked his head out of the closet and said rather defensively, "Jared just kept bringing us more and more cookies to eat!"
They spoiled their dinner and I laughed my guts out instead of reprimanding them because, afterall, he's gonna be a phenomenal waiter one day.
Story #3
(Beware: this story contains the words nursing, pumping, and "milk things")
Tonight we went to dinner with an old college friend and his beautiful wife. I haven't seen him in over 5 years, so I didn't want to have to leave to go feed Hailey when she inevitably got hungry. She's always hungry. So, during our mad rush to get out the door to the babysitters, I had to sit down and pump before we left. Since I hate pumping, this is a rare thing. I didn't really have time to be discreet about it....and let's be honest....even if I did have time, I wouldn't have been.
While I was doing so, Claire came up and asked me....
"Mom.....why are you doing that.... (Pause)...to your...(pause)...milk things? "
Me: (I smile, but try not to laugh. It IS a valid question after all.) I'm pumping so Hailey can eat while mom and dad are at dinner with our friend.
Claire: "But....why do your....(pause)....milk things do that.
Me: "Well, when mommy's have babies, their bodies make food so that the baby doesn't get hungry."
Claire: "Oh..... Did God give you that?"
Me: "Give me what? This (point to the pump)?
Claire: "yes"
Me: "No, I bought this at the store."
Claire smirks a shy smile and walks away looking rather uncertain about the situation. Ya know, Claire, at 4 years old, I would feel a little uncertain about "milk things" too. I understand.
