10 Things I Learned This Week, Vol 36

It was a week of fun. And chaos. And sanitizer…

Lesson #1: There’s no such thing as a free concert. At least not in our house. Just when I thought the boys were having a sweet moment entertaining us with their musical “genius”, I noticed their piggy banks on the table with a suggested donation.

Lesson #2: We all have our vices. The other day at the bus stop, Little had his pacifier (as he often does since I have to drag him out of bed to get there) and a disgusted little girl said, “Why does he have a bink?!” She, then, dramatically turned her head away and stuck her thumb in her mouth.

Lesson #3: If I sing instead of yell or nag, my kids not only do what I say, they laugh while they do it. Problem is remembering to sing before I’ve lost my marbles (figuratively, of course…my gem jar is still e-m-p-t-y).

Lesson #4: Just because the boys fight nonstop these days doesn’t mean they don’t love each other any more. An aide at Big’s school told me that he talks so lovingly about his brother and sister (who knew?!) and the other day Little said, “Pink is having a really hard day.” (She was sleeping peacefully.) “She’s really missing Daddy and Big.”

Lesson #5: Though I didn’t think I could like Amelia Bedelia more than I did as a kid, I was wrong. Hearing my own kid read it to me makes it that much more wonderful.

Lesson #6: If I went everywhere with a smile on my face like Pink does, people would probably be a lot happier to see me too.

Lesson #7: In fact, a smile is so powerful, people don’t even notice your flaws. Except, of course, your big brothers. Little was the only one playing with Pink’s feet at the bus stop who exclaimed, “Ewww! She has poop on her feet!” My sincere apologies to all involved that the only thing I successfully wiped was the smiles off your faces.

Lesson #8: When I hear Little shouting at the laundry basket, “He shoots! He scores!” I can’t help but laugh. But when I hear, “He shoots! He misses!” coming from the bathroom, I have a bit more trouble keeping my sense of humor.

Lesson #9: Heck, even a 2-(almost 3)-year old knows that just because he can wear underwear, doesn’t mean he should. As Little was changing his wet shorts the other day he said, “See, that’s why I’m not allowed to wear underpants.” If only he’d remembered that when I wasn’t home to dress him.

Lesson #10: Quit while you’re ahead. When an alarming number of your weekly lessons are related to bodily fluids, you don’t have to share. Well, at least not all of them.

May you be showered with love in the most figurative sense of the word this week!