6 Words

"I need to speak with you." Is a statement that when uttered by your child's care provider upon you're arrival in the evening makes even the most seasoned parent shudder. No matter your mood prior to that statement- you exhale loudly, shoulders slump and ask, 'What did he do know?'

The subject of that statement in this instance was WC. Now, he's a pretty good kid and rarely ever gets into trouble. But when the boy does something, he doesn't half-ass it. He goes after being in trouble with the same intensity as being well behaved. It's all or nothing...no middle ground. And his trouble is never fighting or anything malicious. It stems more from the fact he's a free-spirit...I guess that's the way to describe it. CJ's troubles always stem from him believing the world should revolve around him and to hell with anyone who doesn't agree- but then he is three & we're working on it.

So, on this day I arrive to the 6 words spoken by the head camp counsellor and she pulls me off to the side.

My son and some other boys- all 6 yrs old went to the bathroom connected to the gymnasium and as with any gym bathroom there's a shower room. They decided it would be fun to take a shower. So they all strip naked and are running around in the open shower room. I'm unsuccessfully trying not to laugh as she describes discovering a shower room full of wet naked little boys. So they all had to have a talk about private parts and not romping around with the parts God gave you flapping in the breeze. 

Both of the boys run around naked all the time at home- after a bath & before pj's they run streaking through the house, squealing with laughter. Nudity isn't anything that I've raised them to be ashamed of. But it never occurred to me that he would do this with total strangers. It was all innocent. I've had multiple discussions with him about his private parts and not allowing anyone to touch them. And he's not to touch anyone else and if someone asks him to then he needs to say no and go tell an adult. I keep that a running discussion that I bring up periodically- usually during the bath time.  But now I've also had to tell him that he can't get naked at day camp.

My Dad laughed hysterically when I told my parents what their grandson had done. And his comment was about how smart the boy is. Smart? Smart?

I don't get how organizing the first grade nudist colony can be considered smart?

A Little Crazy

WC climbed in the car the other evening when I picked him from day camp and half way down the road, out of the blue, he announced:

"I got a bead stuck up my nose today."

Me: "What?!?"

"Oh, don't worry, they got it out."

Me still really confused why a six year old is sticking stuff in his nostrils: "Why?!"

"I got a little crazy today."

 

I drop the conversation, because, what can I really say to that?

 

Yesterday he brought it up again.

 

"You remember when I got a bead stuck up my nose at camp?"

Me: "I recall the story...You know you aren't supposed to stick things in there, right?"

"I was putting this yellow bead in my nose and blowing it out seeing how far I could make it fly across the table. And when I inhaled I sucked it up and the teacher had to use a pen cap and gloves to get it."

Me: "Please tell me this wasn't during lunch."

"Nope...snack."

 

Sometimes it really is best not to ask for details.

 

Incidentally the bead that was being used as a nasal projectile was awarded for good behavior. I'm guessing they didn't revoke it because they really didn't want the bead back...I wouldn't.

 

 

 

 

Sticker Shock

Taking my kids into Toys R Us is like putting an epileptic chihuahua in front of a strobe light. We generally avoid this at all costs.

Their old metal swing set had become unsafe, so Jay dismantled it Saturday. We decided a while back that we wanted to replace it with one of those nice wooden sets. The kind that neither of us had as a child- I don't recall if those existed back then for home use but if they did, we couldn't afford it anyway. It isn't something that is necessary, obviously, but something we would like to do. We decided to ride out to Toys R Us, Sunday after lunch and see what they had & how much.
The sliding door at the Toys R Us must seem like the gates of heaven when you"re 6 & 3. Immediately they spotted the display of Toy Story themed toys and off they went. After we did our research in the play set department I took the kids over to the book aisle...this would be safe. WC quickly located a Bakugan book he just had to have & CJ a Thomas the Train sticker book. They held their treasures until they located a bin of medium sized rubber balls in tie die colors. Okay, fine $.1.99 each. Then the personalized water bottles. WC really wanted one to take to his summer day camp. Sure, that seemed a reasonable request. Nothing else, we are looking at spending money on a play set. No more. That was fine until they reached the guitars. WC wanted one but understood he would have to wait...CJ had to be threatened with taking him back to the car with nothing.
We check out & the girl tell me the total is $42. I swipe the card & complete the transaction before it hits me. What the hell did we spend $42 on? I scan the receipt still standing at the end of the check out. Thomas the Train the sticker book...$12.99...For a sticker book?! Jay rummages into the bag and says, "Honey, you just bought him 800 stickers!"
O...M...G...

Middle TN Flood Relief

Please donate to help flood victims in Middle TN: American Red Cross

We are cleaning up. But torrential rains sent rivers 50 feet above flood stage. The water is receding thanks to several days of hot weather. Volunteers are rushing to devastated areas but more will be needed in the weeks and months ahead as those displaced attempt to rebuild their lives. One woman picked up a toothbrush from a aid center this morning and said that she had not been able to brush her teeth in THREE DAYS! Our brothers and sisters in this world are having to start over from scratch. Please donate, if you are at all able. Pray for those who have lost and for those who are helping. Thank you. God Bless.

Flooded Nashville- We are still here

Text "REDCROSS" to 90999 to donate $10 to the relief effort:

See: Nashville Flooded & Forgotten

We are Nashville

Video shot by Fr. T

The images of my hometown are heart breaking. People here have lost everything. Homes that were in areas that have never flooded, homeowners never given the opportunity to buy flood insurance. It isnt offered in areas that do not flood. And now they have to start over.

Additional Relief Efforts through Salvation Army

Riverfront Park Before & After

Flood of 2010- Middle TN Disaster

This may be the most insane thing I've ever witnessed. Saturday morning it started to rain and it just did not stop. Right now here in Middle Tennessee there are houses sitting 6-7 feet under water. Our average annual rainfall is around 48 inches. Over the course of 48 hours it rained 19 inches. That's about 38% of our yearly rain. Tiny little creeks that children stomp around in turned into swells of rushing water in minutes. We had a funnel cloud come over our town and gone into hiding in our hall bathroom. CJ in the middle of his afternoon nap was pulled from his peaceful slumber to come sit with the rest of us. He seemed strangely calm, as if this sort of thing happens regularly. WC, on the other hand, in the middle of meltdown mode when the electricity blinked on and off rapidly setting off our security system. Jay rushed out into the house to see if he could stop the siren but couldn't. So there we sat. Thankfully, the electricity went off. When it returned the system made a constant flat line sound, which was almost as annoying. Luckily it all past over and nothing touched down. When we emerged from the bathroom Jay set about trying to shut the alarm system up. The only thing he succeeded in doing was arming it and setting it back off again. WC locked himself in the bathroom. CJ acted as if nothing was happening. I had enough. I took a screw driver into the office, where the main power source for the system is and I pulled the whole thing out of the wall. Quiet had been restored. I'll worry about the rest of it later. It was then, our tv service was back on that we began to see what was going on around us. The interstate that I travel on a daily basis & have travelled for years- a portion of it was under water. Cars were bobbing up and down in the waves. We watched on live tv, a portable classroom from a school- not that close by- came floating down the interstate hit several cars and disintegrated before our very eyes. It had been picked up off it's foundation, floated across the at least the football field, soccer field and I can't recall what else to get there where we watched its demise. If you want to see some videos search Nashville flood on You Tube and take your pick of which devastation to see.

Here is a pile of cars in Antioch, TN. In a very hard hit area.

The Delta at the famous Opryland Hotel is under water. There is fountain in there, somewhere...

The Dairy King, been there as long as I can remember. Mill Creek isn't supposed to be there.

We were extremely fortunate; did not experience any water in our home. Other people around me weren't so lucky. Please lift them up your prayers. Please make contributions to the American Red Cross for the victims of the Nashville Flood. From what I have heard, we have not had much attention in the national media. But this is a huge disaster here in Middle Tennessee. The need is immediate.

My images here on this blog are just a few of what is out there. If interested please search for them. I will try to post some more when available. Thank you.

The Bathroom

This post is inspired by the blog posting of my friend, Michele. Her little daughter is right on time for that wonderful separation anxiety that all little ones go through at one point or another. While I have over the years found having an audience when I go to the room I considered private in my pre-child days a bit taxing at times- especially during that delicate "woman time". WC, on the other hand, found a whole new usefulness when his little brother gained mobility. He's managed to turn the toilet room into their clubhouse of sorts. They haul toys in there and settle in, sometimes he sends his little brother out for something he's decided he wants to play with. It isn't uncommon for me to hear, "I have to go potty. Come on CJ, grab that Bakugon and come on." I find myself grilling him on whether he's actually still "doing something" or just sitting there.

One afternoon I sat in front of the computer and I heard Tom and Jerry enter the bathroom, didn't think a thing about it. When I came out of the office, I was faced with the scene that is pictured above. They'd gotten into the fridge pulled out the leftover bread sticks and marinara sauce and there they were. WC sitting on the toilet and being the "responsible" one holding the sauce while he & CJ dipped the bread sticks in. This one really icked me out.