Time can get away from us so fast these days. Upon review of the blog it has been several months since anything was posted, and it would take pages to document all the anecdotes and growth we have seen in the kids. FB has become the crutch to post short updates and pics, and though busy schedules do not allow for daily or even weekly posts, the intent of the blog remains.
As the monsters continue to grow and advance we say goodbye to old challenges and face new challenges each and every day. The days of diapers and toddlers has passed us, and now we toil with the every day sibling arguments, repetitive commands and questions to pick up your room, put your shoes away, did you do your homework, or the all encompassing question when you cannot fathom their thought process, "what is wrong with you"? There are days we labor to remember if we possibly dropped each and every child on their head as a baby. The good news is they can pick up their room, make their beds, clean the dog poop, tie their shoes, play with each other in a civilized manner, and even on the rare occasion show remorse for something done wrong.
The most recent theme being preached continuously around the house hold is simply "do the right thing." They know right from wrong and I know they know right from wrong because it is written all over the face when they are doing something wrong and they are very quick to point out when the other child is doing something wrong. So the edict is do the right thing no matter what. Even when nobody else is around or you are sure you won't be found out, do the right thing.
We happened upon this theme one day when Lily had a friend over and they were playing with my IPad. All the kids enjoy recording themselves singing, dancing or giving a monologue about who knows what. Lily and her friend were recording each other singing a song and as is usually the case each new recording must escalate and out perform the previous video. Some time had gone by and I needed my IPad for something. The IPad was located and it was just sitting there still recording the ceiling with nobody insight. The buzzer in my head dings as if to say something is not right here. So I stop the recording, go to the beginning and view the video. It opens with Lily's friend introducing Lily quite enthusiastically along with the song she is about to sing. The camera pans to Lily who is standing on her head on top of Abby's bed at which point she stands up right, turns around, begins singing a version of a Carrie Underwood song in her best rock-n-roll, and jumping on the bed like its a mosh pit. 3 seconds later the bottom of the bed drops out and Lily is standing there motionless with a look on her face that words are not able to describe. It was that look of desperation on a child's face when they think Daddy may end my life for this one.
The puzzling thing to me was Abby's bed was all put back together as if nothing had happened. Opportunities like this to find out if your child will tell you the truth are like gold. They were busted and they had no idea. The culprits were located and I kindly asked, "Lily, did something happen to the bed upstairs?" Her quick response with lack of eye contact, "no". BUSTED. "Lily, I'm going to ask one more time, did something happen to the bed." This time in a dejected tone, "yes.........how did you know?"
And so the evidence was presented and they got to listen to my lecture on "do the right thing", even when you think nobody will find out. After the long arduous process of listening to my lecture, we replayed the video about 10 times and laughed harder and harder each time.
The funny thing about kids getting older is they actually listen to you sometimes, and they love to point out when Daddy is not doing the right thing. It's forced me to take stock and make sure I'm doing the right thing. Nothing is worse than a gloating 7 year old little girl who just called you out for not doing the right thing.
Jeff, Kasey, Lily, Abby, Chloe, and Lawson Boy (still eating 3 breakfasts a day)
