By Jenn
There are few things that I can hear from my children that can send an icy chill up my spine and make the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. Want an example? Here's one:
"Uh-oh"
*silence*
"Don't tell Mom."
Seriously, no matter what I am doing, that will stop me in my tracks. Being the "experienced" mother that I am, my first thought is, "Do I really want to know what just happened?" (The answer to that is obviously no.) Therefore, my next question is, "Do I need to know what just happened?" (The answer to that is obviously yes.)
Yesterday, after begging and pleading with my older boys to keep an eye on their little sister so I could take a shower, I am in my bathroom getting dressed when I hear those words.
I freeze.
I can honestly tell you that I really did not want to go investigate. I just didn't think I had the energy to go see what caused not only the "uh-oh" to be uttered, but more importantly, what necessitated the "Don't tell Mom" to be voiced.
Since I knew I had to go find out what had happened, yet was not really ready for the answer, I finished getting dressed, dried my hair, and said a little prayer before exiting the bathroom.
You're wondering what I found, aren't you? Are you nervous for me? Did your stomach clench up just a bit? Are you more than a little thankful that it was my children and not yours? Well, you should be. When I emerged from the bathroom and entered the playroom, there before my eyes was the most colorful display of imagination I had ever seen.
Unfortunately, the canvas was my daughter. What color technique was used? My hot pink nail polish. It was all over her hands. All over her feet. Some in her hair. All over a pillow. Pretty little circles on the floor. And, yes, even some on her once-white sundress.
Remember when I said I was an "experienced" mother? This came into play. The part of me that was "experienced" knew that the best course of action was to turn, walk back to my bathroom and wait. Wait until I could take a breath that wasn't shaky. Wait until the frustration of not being able to take a shower without this happening left me. And wait until the urge to laugh left me.
I admit it. The guilty look on the boys' faces and the pride on my daughter's face about did me in. I thought it was funny. (The humor left after the first 30 minutes of trying to clean it up, however.)
What do you hear from your kids that will stop you in your tracks and send a chill up your spine?
THUMP! ...followed by silence. If the kid is screaming, I know they are alive...and I can arrive at the scene of the crime patiently. I hate when they hurt themselves and then enter shock from blood or pain -- then you know it's bad. Had one of those today. A gash under the eye from falling on a corner.
Do women who are primaries notice that their children get hurt more when they are being taken care of by either their husbands or family members? Just curious.
Posted by: daddydaycare | July 18, 2004 at 12:45 AM
Great story Jenn. I must admit that I'm glad it wasn't me who had to clean it up.
Posted by: cassie-b | July 13, 2004 at 07:25 PM
What sends a chill down my spine? How about a THUMP-WHUMP-CRASH followed by a scream, or a piercing cry. That will stop my in my tracks and furiously back peddle to the source of the sound.
The last time this happened, Tony ended up in the emergency room with a deep cut in his finger. Fortunately some medical super glue followed a week later by some antibiotics helped to heal the wound with no scar.
Posted by: VJ | July 10, 2004 at 10:56 PM
Oh my, I am laughing so hard. Thank yuu for sharing - how EVER did you get that stuff off her? And you know, in the end, on occasions like these where it really is innocent fun, laughing is what you are supposed to do! (Right?) - I'm not there yet, myself! Perhaps I have a lot to learn!
Posted by: Jo | July 10, 2004 at 09:11 PM
Thank you for giving me the best laugh I've had all day! (Sorry, I should be commiserating, shouldn't I?!) I love the bit about "don't tell mom" - as if you wouldn't have noticed!! You do know you should have taken a photo for the album, don't you? :)
Posted by: Pewari | July 10, 2004 at 03:50 PM
I'm right there with you.I felt dread and nervousness just reading this post.A cruel thing for you to put upon someone who hasn't had coffee yet!
Posted by: Emily | July 10, 2004 at 11:03 AM