Moses, quit eating the paste!

On Sundays, our family huddles up with other believers in our area for a time to worship corporately.  Just like at most churches, there is an opportunity to worship through what our church calls, "extended session."  It is a time where you assist very small people with their own 

"corporate worship" and enjoy some snacks and playtime too.  

Today was our opportunity to hang with the toddlers.  As I called out instruction, praise and comfort to the various little ones (many who are named after Bible heros) I had to wonder if it ever sounded like this in the OT nursery...

"Joshua, we don't push our friends down." 

"Elijah, do not put your goldfish in your water."  

"Shadrach, do not crawl on the table."  

"Isaac, don't cry.  Pop will be here to get you soon."  

Who knows?  But I am sure excited to see what these little ones do as they grow and fulfill their precious purpose.  However I cannot imagine how cramming one another into the play oven has anything to do with it.

Dear Lady,

Dear precious middle-aged woman without any toddlers to cart in and out of Publix, 

Is it really so difficult to push your cart across a row to the shopping cart docking station?  I mean, you aren't 50 feet from it.  You don't have screaming children to fear leaving alone in the car, and you obviously aren't in a hurry since you are now sitting in your car on your cell phone chatting away.  I just wanted to point out that it is right over there.  Just a few more steps and you could save people a great deal of aggravation.  I am sure that you just didn't see it marked so clearly with the picture of the shopping cart up on the pole.  

Thank you,

A helpful mother of three who was able to return her shopping cart even though she had just run several errands with her 1 year old and 2 1/2 year old which even required getting them in and out of the car and waiting in line with said toddlers and they were all tired and hungry.  

"I not..."

We are seven years into this parenting thing, but if there is one thing that I have learned is that it is cyclic.  A precious friend and fellow mother gave me sage advise when we had Daddy's Girl.  I will never forget her telling me that no matter what the stage my children were going through, love it or hate it, it will pass.  So true.

The newest stage in the "Tribe" home is with our Little Prince.  Now two years and eight months, his favorite declaration is "I not...".  

"LP, pick up the toys."

"I not."

"LP, stop hitting your sisters."

"I not."

"LP, don't pull down everything that is up and throw up everything that is down."

"I not."

What "I not" essentially means is "I don't want to."  And he truly believes this magic phrase will release him from any responsibility to follow the requests/commands/ultimatums .  Now although I am completely opposed to this behavior from my son, I have begun wondering how it would work for me.

Due date for bill payment.

"I not."

The relocation and reconfiguring of my entire postpartum body.

"I not."

The uncanny wake-up call EVERY STINKING MORNING before 7am.

"I not."

The goliath pile of self-procreating dirty laundry.

"I not."

The quickly fleeting years of my children's "little years."

"I not."

The passing of those dear to me.

"I not."

So far, it isn't working.  However, give up?  "I not."

Your career profile says "Orderly"

Lately we have been working the delicate balance of allowing Little Prince to be a little boy and yet teaching the social responsibilities of not waylaying all your friends and family.  This has been especially exasperating at church since we don't often witness his "playfulness" firsthand.    And we don't really get a clear picture when we ask him what he did in his class that day since his usual response to our inquiries is, "I push people."  In fact, tonight after putting him to bed, singing a few songs and thanking God for each member of our family and their chairs (not kidding) and markers and the table, I was making my exit, hand on the door knob when I heard again,

 "Mommy." 

"Yes LP."

"I push people."

Who knows, perhaps somewhere down the line this will be a very vital life skill.  I'm trying to  remain optimistic.

Ahhh, kids

So it's Sunday morning and Mr. Wonderful and I are rushing around as usual getting everyone ready for church.  Mr. W gets Little Prince a bowl of cereal and LP takes it into the den to watch a video.  Mr. W and I are both walking through the den and witness the crime scene.  LP and Sunshine are sitting, delighted, on a pallet of Crunchy Raisin Bran strewn all over the den floor.  When we ask, "LP, what are you doing?!!"  He answers resolutely, "Chewin."

So we left them on the floor and let them chew.