I had one of those moments this morning where one small event leads to another and then another and then another.
It all started to unravel while I was in the shower when Samuel (2) hit Ryan (nearly 5) on the head with a broom handle. There was a loud protest but no tears so it wasn’t very hard. I think it was an accident but I can’t be sure. Emma (9) came to the rescue with a bag of frozen peas to ice the sore head. I was receiving regular updates through the bathroom door, and I was dutifully shouting instructions back at them like this “LEAVE EACH OTHER ALONE! For goodness SAKE!”
So when I was informed that “Sam is stealing the peas!” I shouted back “EMMA! PUT THE PEAS BACK IN THE FREEZER!”
Apparently he got them back out because after my shower I found a kilogram of peas now defrosted and tipped all over the lounge floor, quite evenly spread from one room to the next. They were too soggy to vacuum, so I swept them into a pile. This is some of them:
While this was happening I asked Ryan to get the vacuum cleaner, and he had trouble plugging it in. Ben (7) came to his aid but not before accidentally leaning on the book shelf and tipping it resulting in this:
So when I heard a glass smash on the drive way just a few moments later, I kind of flipped out.
Because there was a barefoot two year old to consider, I stopped cleaning up the peas to get to the glass, all the while letting rip with sighs, and groans, and the ranting began. “You’ve got to be joking, this is Ridiculous! Just stop it! Stop making messes! All of you! How can you make so much mess in such a short time? I’m sick of cleaning up disasters around here. I just can’t believe you guys!”
Glass done and onto the peas: “I can’t believe this…why didn’t you guys stop him and take the peas away!What the heck is going on around here?” I was quite focussed on my little rant and cleaning up as fast as possible in case something else happened…but I gradually became aware than Emma had placed something down on the carpet and was slowly, with head down leaving the room. Backwards. Strange. Then I saw this:
I was completely undone and the rant dissolved away into unbridled laughter. I love these kids who are so wise and funny and light hearted. They don’t take life too seriously. Who cares really about peas on the carpet!?
The pages came from this book called M.O.M. - Mom Operating Manual by Doreen Cronin, that Emma has taken out from the library this week.
Oh my goodness! This post has kind of made my day. Not because of what you had to go through (It would have completely undone me) but because of Emma’s reaction with the timely placing of the book. Classic! With the peas on the floor…my reaction would have been…”dinner is served children, now eat up!” Haha!! Or breakfast, or lunch…depending on what time of day it was. It could have saved you one lot of meal prep for the day. ;)
I know, Emma was really funny. It made my day.
That is so so funny Erin, even better with photo’s to go with it too. Every family should have one of those books.
I know! If I wan’t trying to get RID of books, I’d definitely consider buying one for future reference.
Absolutely hilarious, I do love the colour of the peas though even if they were wasted, it is times like that you need chickens :)
We DO have a chicken! I didn’t even think of her at the time…man, all those wasted peas. She would have loved them.
I laughed SO hard. My hubby had to ask if I was apoplectic!! That’s awesome. (Gotta find that book!)
It’s a really funny book. I’ve added a link to the post…fishpond.co.nz have it. Or I also sometimes shop at http://BetterWorldBooks.com as they are a good cause.
Excellent. Will get it for my kids.
I have got to find that book. Seriously. Thanks to Broot for the FB link to your rant! I enjoyed it (and identified with it all too closely)
I have updated the post with a link to the book. It’s really funny, for the kids AND Mum! Thanks for visiting :)
that is good might need to teach my kids to back away and leave the room at least once a mth. i tend to malfunction big time at that time
Hehe yes, good strategy.