Life in the Back Seat with K & L

Need a laugh? There is always one available from children.....

My 3 year-old grandson, L, and his 1 year-old sister, K, were being driven home from their morning activity by their dad. K, in the back seat with her brother, was crying and inconsolable all the way home. L has been taught to reason things out and approach problems creatively.

L: "Why won't she stop crying, Dad?"
Dad: "Because she is hungry."
L: "Well, let's feed her."
Dad: "We don't have anything to feed her right now, but we will get her something as soon as we get home."
L: "She needs something right now."
Dad: "I know, but we don't have anything and we are almost home."
L: "Well. I can find something!"

L proceeded to put his finger up his nose and pull out a big booger. Fortunately, although he tried very hard, he could not reach K. Dad went from horrified to relieved to doubled over in laughter.

From the Memory Box - Pillbugs

I did write a well-thought out post yesterday but somehow it disappeared into cyberspace. it had a photo and everything. I am not too keen on repeating my efforts from scratch, so it may be awhile before I attempt that subject again.

Meanwhile, here's another thought from The Memory Box:

One day we collected tons of pill bugs and built a maze out of Legos with ham as a reward and tried to train the pillbugs to complete the maze.

I think they gave up on training pillbugs, but since they were plentiful, the children played with them a lot. One day DD was holding one in her hand and called our attention to it. The pillbug was walking along the palm of her hand leaving a trail of translucent babies in her wake.

Yes, it amazing what children dream up when they are not allowed to sit in front of the T.V. Our children came up with several different "experiments." I observed DS coming to the front door several times each day and lifting the outside doormat.
"What are you doing? I finally asked him.
"Looking for bugs, " he told me nonchalantly.
"Well, why do you look so many times each day?"
"There is always something new," he explained.

Besides the pill bugs in the maze, there was the incident in the bathroom. I smelled a terrible odor but could not find the source. Several days later the odor was even stronger so I took everything out of the cupboards. Way in the back I found a bowl with molding navy beans. I called a conference.
"Where did these beans come from and why are they here?" I demanded.
"We were doing an experiment," the children explained.
"Why did you leave the beans in the cupboard?"
"Because the experiment didn't work," they explained with great logic.

Such was life in the household. One experiment was "cooking macaroni" with hot water out of the tap. I found that one in the bathroom cupboard as well.Then there were the snakes, but I will leave that for another time.....

"Let the Little Children Come Unto Me"

How do you solve a problem like Maria?
How do you catch a cloud and pin it down?
How do you find a word that means Maria?
A flibbertijibbet! A will-o'-the wisp! A clown!
Many a thing you know you'd like to tell her
Many a thing she ought to understand
But how do you make her stay And listen to all you say
How do you keep a wave upon the sand
Oh, how do you solve a problem like Maria?
How do you hold a moonbeam in your hand?

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Abs finally made it to overnight status.

"Grandma, can I spend the night and go to church with you in the morning?" The plaintive little voice resonated with longing. I could have told her no and she would have been absolutely crushed, but she would have accepted the decision, cried a little, and journeyed on. I would not have expected temper tantrums, recriminations, or begging. I did not, however, tell ABS "no."

Sunday morning dawned clear and cool as we dressed for church after finishing off plates of pancakes. Abs looked adorable in a maroon dress with little white collar. She put on her black boots and I put her hair in "pigtails." I finished dressing as Abs twirled and danced in front of a floor length mirror.
"Uh-oh! You can see my panties when I do that," she said, and disappeared into the other room. When she returned, she had on a pair of long, black stretch pants, sprinkled with silver glitter, under her dress. Abs tucked the pants into her boots and commented on how cute they were, "bagging, just like real stockings."
She wrapped herself in a red, fringed shawl, and announced that she was ready to go. I can count on Abs not to make a scene when I say no to an overnight, but I can equally count on her to wage war when I try to interfere with her sense of fashion.

"Let's go!" I said.

I have two main rules for Abs in church. The rules are born of experience. The first is to not talk unless you are asked a question, then only give one answer. The other is to keep your hands to yourself. I forgot to remind her of these before we went in to the sanctuary. She grabbed a packet as we went to our seats. The packet contained a book, a couple of pipe cleaners, 2-3 colored index cards, paper, a pencil, and a stencil. The packet is supposed to quietly entertain a young child until time for the Children's Moment at the altar followed by their departure for Children's Church.

Abs quickly began making cards from the paper and index cards in the packet. She knew there was not much time before she would have to put it all away. After each card was made, she reached out to hand it to someone who caught her fancy during the morning. Sometimes it was just a person sitting quietly to one side, another time it might be a child who has shown her a kindness. She managed to pass out four cards this morning, and I noticed each recipient had a broad smile after Abs' visit.

The children's lesson was on "The Good Samaritan" who helped someone in need when no one else would.
"What are some things that should NOT influence us when we see someone who needs help?" the leader asked.
The children toss out out suggestions.
"Whether they are clean."
"Whether they are different from us."
"What they are wearing!" shouted my little fashion plate whose pant legs had come out of the boots. There was tittering throughout the congregation.

The leader progressed to the prayer which the children were asked to repeat. There were several short sentences to the prayer and all the children dutifully repeated the phrases as requested, except one. One little voice spoke the first 2-3 words of the sentence, then sang, like a cantor, the rest of the phrase....all the way through the prayer. The first time the singing occurred, it was quietly noted. The second time, there was a rustle as some people turned to a neighbor to share a smile. As the singing continued, members of the congregation were obviously struggling to keep their mirth in check, until, after the final sentence and its vocal reprise, there was a burst of appreciative laughter. Abs, blissfully unaware of her effect on the whole congregation, skipped off to Children's Church leaving a roomful of smiles behind her.