God or The Man?

A kind of game has evolved between me and the 4-year olds, one in particular. He came up with it, I just play along.

He asks a question. I ask a question. He gives the answer.

The question is always the same, changed only by what we happen to be driving by in the moment. My response NEVER changes, if I try, I get in trouble.

There are only two answers: God or The Man

Hey Mom, Who made the sky?
Who do you think?
Um, God.
Mom, Who made the cars?
Who do you think?
The Man

It is So. Much. Fun.

He could play for hours. I typically end it after the fifth question.

Every once in a while he questions me about this "man" of whom we speak. Where is he? How old is he? Can I meet him?

Periodically I remind him who created "the man" and how he was created to be creative.

The other day he threw a curve ball into our little game, a small, but fun, deviation.

Hey Mom, Who made the spiderweb?
A new answer, the spider.
Oh, So who made the spider?
Who do you think?
Spiderman? 

Good times, with a 4 year old. Can't wait for the next round. :)

Listening In

A conversation with Suhn...

S: Mom, you are the queen.

M: Yes, and who is Daddy?

S: The king.

M: Who are you and Mya?

S: Princesses

M: What about Simon and Jonah?

S: Princes

M: And what about Sean?

S: He's the puppy!

There you have it, our royal puppy.

Listening In

A Car Conversation:

S: Can we take a rocket to the sun?

Me: No, you would burn up before you arrived because the sun is so hot.

J: Can we take a rocket to the moon?

Me: Yes, in fact people have taken a rocket to the moon and even walked on the moon.

S: Do you know the name of the person who first walked on the moon?

Me: Yes, I think his name was Neil Armstrong.

S: No mom, (spoken with emphasis) it was Buzz Lightyear.

We may need to watch a little less Toy Story at our house me thinks...

Screendoor on a Submarine

"It's about as useless as a screen door on a submarine," Rich Mullins once sang. He was talking about faith without works, but the same could be said of arguing with a three year old.

Believe me, I know. I have LOTS of experience.

Three year olds arguing with each other is even more pointless. I have been witness to many conversations between mine, especially in the car, such as...

Suhn: My name is Suhn.

Sean: No, my name is Sean!

Suhn: NO, my name is SUHN!!

Sean: NO, MY NAME IS SEAN!!!

or

Sean: We are going to turn on my side.

Suhn: No, we are going to turn on my side!

Sean: NO, we are going to turn on MY SIDE!!

Suhn: NO SEAN, WE ARE GOING TO TURN ON MY SIDE!!!

Some times I join in: Be Quiet you two, I'm driving, I'll decide where we turn.

Many times that's the point where they decide to join forces and tell me I'm wrong.

And then a little tune pops into my head and I remember how pointless it is to argue with three year olds. You think I'd learn.

Actually you think they'd learn. How many reminders, consequences, etc. do they need to remember who the boss is? (eh-hem, that is ME just in case you had any doubt)

Someday (soon? please, please, please) they may actually figure out how pointless it is to argue with mom. Until then, I will bravely carry on, enduring the long, arduous, screen-door-on-a-submarine, I-am-right-because-I'm-three type of episodes/tantrums that come with three year olds...

...or I will keel over from the brain exhaustion that comes from listening to one too many pointless arguments.

At this point in time, I'd say its a toss-up.

Listening In

A little background: A couple of weeks ago I saw the beginnings of a wasp nest in our garage. I saw a wasp at that time, but haven't seen one since. I must have mentioned it to the kids. This morning, this is what I heard...

M: Simon and Jonah do you want to go out in the garage with me to get my book?

(apparently they know about the wasps nest too)

S: No

M: It will be so fun. We will run out really quick and run back.

J: I don't really want to.

M: God and Jesus will be with you and me and if you get stung it won't be a big deal we can just put some baking soda on it.

S: Is a wasp in the car?

M: Come on, this is your last chance.

And with that she convinced S to go with her, while J watched from the door with encouragement when they returned, "at least you didn't get stung!"

Parents Say Funny Things Too!

Kids say funny things. The way my kids process the world and the questions they ask (i.e. Are Disney World and Florida friends?) bring many smiles to my day.

Sometimes parents say funny things too.

Last night one of my kids was trying to figure out how to shoot a foam dart gun. She couldn't. She whined. Lacking patience, I said the first thing that came to mind:

If you can't figure it out, just give up!

A friend overheard my words and began to laugh. Once I realized what I had said, I laughed too. The child left the room slightly confused, mulling over the "wise"words of her mother.

Parents can say funny things, but somehow, I don't think our kids find us that amusing.

Have you ever let words slip that left you thinking, "Did I just say that?"

Listening In

Twin: Mom, I want a snack!

Mommy: Okay, how about some pretzels?

Twin: No, I don't want pretzels. I want something that starts with an S.

Mommy: An S?

Twin: Yes, something that starts with an S, or an I, or an M, or an O, or an N.... can I have some cheese?


Once he learns to spell, snack time should be really interesting!

Listening In

Scene: Everyone is sleeping soundly... including me!

3:30 am Mommy is awaken to the pitter patter of little feet. Twin A appears at her bedside.

Mommy: What do you need buddy?

Twin A: Mommy, I love you.

Mommy: Okay, thanks I love you too, now go to bed!!

Sleep overtakes the household again until...

5:30 am Mommy is awaken to the pitter patter of little feet AGAIN. This time Twin B appears.

Mommy: Buddy, what do you want?

Twin B: Have a good quiet time mommy!

Oh the irony and joys of motherhood!

Listening In

While organizing my blog labels on Saturday, I found this post that had never been published (By the way, if your google reader was filled with old posts from me let me apologize! It took me a few rounds to figure out the best way to clean up my labels.)

3 year old: I want a snack mom.

Mom: Okay, just let me finish this.

3 year old : That will take a while.

Mom: No it won't I'm almost done.

3 year old: I'm freezing mom

Mom: Do you want to wear a coat?

3 year old: No, snacks make me warm.

You gotta love the logic of a 3 year old and their relentless pursuit of snacks!

Listening In

Mommy: Boys I need you to pick up the blocks so I can sweep your room.

Little Boy: But we are playing "Boz the Green Bear."

Mommy: Pick-up your blocks, I'll sweep, and then you can play "Boz the Green Bear."

Little Boy: But I am tired.

Mommy: Oh, then you are probably too tired to play "Boz the Green Bear."

Little Boy: No, I was talking about the blocks.

Gotta love the "logic" of a 3 year old!

Listening In

Little Boy: Mom, I don't want you to come in my room. I want you to stay downstairs. Okay?

Mommy: Why?

Little Boy: I just want you to stay downstairs.

Mommy: Do you have something you shouldn't in your room?

Little Boy: Yes

Mommy: What is it?

Little Boy: Thomas [the train] wants videos in ours room.

Sounds like I need to have a little talk with "Thomas."

Listening In

The family has congregated on the sofa as Ty and ABC build another family's dream house. Bedtime is just around the corner. Daddy makes the following suggestion...

Daddy: How about after the kids are in bed we have a p - i - z - z - a? (spelling the word so the kids won't know what they are missing)

Mya: Are you going to make a pizza when we're in bed?

Ooh, we are so BUSTED!

Listening In

You know you've been married for awhile when...

You are driving in a car. Your kids complain of being cold.

You respond, "Hang on a minute, the heat is on and you will be warm soon."

A phrase tickles your brain and you are about to shout it out, when your husband beats you by mere nano-seconds (in official time) belting out a song from back in the day...

Yeah, we're that cool.

Or maybe we are just products of the 80s.

Come on, admit it, how many of you would have done the same thing?
(and how many of you young ens are still wondering what the song was?)

Listening In

3:00 Am

Mommy woken up by a crying twin thinks, "Should I get up or let him cry it out"

Being a good mommy, I went. Wrong decision.

Mommy: Buddy what's wrong.

Twin A: I want to listen to music mom.

Mommy: Sorry, kid we don't listen to music at 3 IN THE MORNING.

Mommy shuffles back to bed.

5 minutes later...

The padding of little feet is heard in Mommy's bedroom. Twin A's head appears.

Mommy: What is it?

Twin A: I want to sleep with my blanket and pillow NOT mom.

Mommy: Fine, go back to bed.

5 minutes later again...

The padding of feet is heard again. Twin A's head appears again.

Mommy: What is it this time?

Twin A: I want to sleep with my blanket and pillow.

Mommy: Thanks for the play-by-play kid now GO TO SLEEP!

Ahh, the joys of motherhood do NOT include a good night's sleep. Or maybe I should say they include a good night's sleep NOT.

Listening In

Twin A: Pushes his brother.

Mommy: "Buddy, we don't push."

Twin B: Pushes his brother back.

Twin A: With tears in his eyes, "He pushed me mommy."

Mommy: "Did you push him first?"

Twin A: "No, I just tapped him mommy."

Nice try little man, Nice try.

Listening In

I always knew the day would come. I just didn't think it would come this soon.

Mya: Mom, when do I get my own phone in my room?

Mommy: What are you talking about? Why do you need your own phone - you only know your own phone number?! Where did you get that idea?

Mya: *** has her own phone and she was telling me about it. Can you teach me ***'s phone number?

Mommy: Uhh, maybe later.

And then yesterday, she up and asked for another "big ticket" item.

"Mommy, when can I have my own camera? An adult camera. Not those little kids ones that play music."

I think my little girl is growing up. I can only guess what she will be asking for next...

Listening In

Mommy: Simon, do you want to play a game?

Simon: Yes, let's play "I see something you don't see."

Mommy: Okay, I see something you don't see and it is yellow.

Simon: Is it my shirt?

Mommy: No

Simon: Is it the flower?

Mommy: No

Simon: Is it your teeth?

Mommy: Let's play another game.

Listening In

To give a better frame of reference to the "Not" at the end of yesterday's wordless wednesday, please listen in on a common conversation at our house as we are getting ready for quiet time:

Mommy: Jonah, do you want to pick out some books for quiet time?

Jonah: Yes, mom

Mommy: Which ones do you want?

Jonah: I want this one, and this one and this one (I reach for all the books as he points to them), not mom.

Mommy: You don't want this one?

Jonah: I want this one, not mom.

Mommy: Okay, just tell me the ones you do want, not the ones you don't want.

Jonah: Okay mom, I want this one. And I want the train one, not mom.

Listening In

Mom: Jonah, you need to pick up your puzzles before I make lunch.

Jonah: No Mom, I too busy.

Mom: Oh really, what are you busy doing?

Awkward pause

Jonah: I busy doing this mom (aka nothing)

I see you... Do you see me?

There is a game we play at our house.
It starts with Mya saying "I see you mom... Do you see me?"
It ends with me answering yes or no. The game seems to pop up randomlly - usually when Mya sees me in a new way.

Today it took place in our van.
"I see you mom... do you see me?"
I glanced back to see Mya looking at me through the reflection of the van window.

"Yes, I see you." I replied.

Heavenly reminders can come in all shapes and sizes, including little games my daughter likes to play. Today's game reminded me to think about what I am reflecting. I've heard it said that parents are a reflection of God to their children. What am I teaching them about His character through my actions?

The other day we played the game in the living room. Mya covered her eyes with her hands, peeked through and asked the question, "do you see me?"

Again, I was sent a heavenly reminder. This time it was a reminder of His continual presence in my life. There are days when I feel isolated and wonder if anyone sees me. My heart forgets that I am always seen and loved by my Savior and gets wrapped up in self-pity instead.

Amazingly, my Father doesn't laugh at my silly games but instead lovingly pulls me to him and says, "Of course I see you, I always do."