Lessons Learned

This past week I've learned some valuable lessons from my children.

From Deacon--cereal can be dangerous.

I heard a loud thud, followed by a wail. I ran downstairs to find Deacon sprawled on the ground, a victim of his high chair. Apparently he had tried to climb into his high chair to get his soggy, hour-old, Captain Crunch only to tumble off. The details are a little sketchy, as I received them secondhand from Parker, but somehow the high chair and Deacon became enemies. As I picked up my screaming son, I tried to ascertain bodily damage. "What hurts?" I asked, feeling for broken bones.

"The cereal hurts me," he responded tearfully.

From McKay--not everyone takes off their pants one leg at a time.

On Sunday afternoon, I suddenly became aware of an eerie quiet, a sound more menacing than piercing screams. I found McKay sitting on Parker's bed, a pair of scissors in hand, happily cutting her pants off her body.

Also from McKay--you may not always a tissue handy when you need one, but luckily there's always a piece of furniture lying about.

As fun as it is to discover your daughter using your couch as a giant Kleenex, it is actually more delightful to discover that her nose isn't runny, but bloody.

From Parker--contrary to popular belief, it is better to ask for permission instead of forgiveness.

Our family has a rule that on Sunday, we only watch "Sunday" movies such as VeggieTales, Living Scriptures, etc. So on Sunday afternoon, when I found Parker watching SpongeBob, I reminded him of the rule.

"It's fine, Mom," he told me, "Before I turned on SpongeBob, I said a prayer that it would be o.k."