Squabble Squabble Squabble!

The Better Angels of Our Nature (almost finished!  anyone else reading it?  don't you want to talk about it?!) tells me that 2 years old is the most violent human age.  I'm really hoping that 5 and 2 is also the height of sibling squabbling because if it gets any worse... I'll be having colorful duct tape fantasies.

We arrived at the pool during break this morning, so they started off in the baby pool while I sat in the shade.  Within minutes, Mr. Pants had splashed Shmoogie more than she liked, I saw her scowl at him and announce, "I'm going tell on you!" and then the race was on to scramble out of the pool and get to me first.

Mr. Pants won.  "Shmoogie is saying...!"  Then Shmoogie herself burst between us, "Mr. Pants spwashed me!!!!"

I looked at them sternly.  They looked at me expectantly.

I said, "Children, do you want to stay at the pool?"

They looked startled.  (Shmoogie's face was a fascinating sort of startled scowl, actually.)  Then they looked at each other.  Shmoogie said, "Le's go back to the pool, Mr. Pants," and they were off, laughing.

If only I could do that all the time.  Or even most of the time.  Or even some significant minority of the time!

Comments

[Gina]

way to go, mamma!

[mar mar]

Well done! I completely startled M out of wailing like it was the end of the world about.....I can't remember exactly what......by wailing myself. She stopped. I wailed some more and she giggled. I wailed still more and she started to laugh. Humor is a wonderful thing, or maybe it is just making it clear you are not buying into whatever they are selling. And think they are rather ridiculous to boot!

I'm sure I'll want to talk LOTS about The Better Angles, but.....I'm still working on Steve Jobs. Maybe by Christmas you could ask again?? I suspect others will take a while to catch up with you as well.

[DiDi]

And even ONCE gave you a good moment! There will be more.

[Kelly]

I will turn this car around!