File this one in things-you-may-be-ecstatic-or-horrified-to-overhear-as-a-parent…
This past week, early one morning, I was woken up by Elliot (4) screaming down the hall, “Mommy! Mommy! Can you wipe me?!”
As I slowly dragged myself out of bed, I overheard Finn (6) say, “Here. I’ll help you.”
Me: “Ryan, wake up! I think Finn’s wiping Elliot’s butt.”
Ryan: “What?!” (getting out of bed to investigate)
Ryan: (returning) Yep, Finn wiped Elliot’s butt for him.
Me: “What?! Did you tell him not to?!”
Ryan: “Hell no. I think it’s fantastic. Why didn’t we think of this one sooner. Genuis.”
I’m still on the fence about this one. However, it did instigate a strong independent-booty-wiping-boot-camp this week with Elliot.
The crusade I couldn’t quite muster the time or energy to fight
We have the most beautiful magnolia tree on the side of our house. It serves as my kids natural playground, stops strangers to tell us how much they admire it, forms a canopy over our deck to make a leafy oasis, and is the backdrop to countless family pictures like the one on my about page and these old goodies.
This legendary magnolia tree also provides what our family refers to as THE TUNNEL OF LOVE (inspired by my deep love of Anne of Green Gables).
THE TUNNEL OF LOVE forms a heavenly arched canopy over the adjacent sidewalk. Who wouldn’t want to escape an uninspired, barren sidewalk and instead be enveloped in a tree wonderland?
Our family finds it so beautiful, our most current family photo sesh was held under THE TUNNEL OF LOVE.
So when I looked out my kitchen window and saw some city workers coming at it with a hacksaw, Mama Bear came out for a chat.
Me: “Can I help you?”
Gaggle of city workers: “Someone called and complained about this tree hanging over the sidewalk. We need to trim it.”
Me: “You’re kidding me.”
Gaggle of city workers: “I know. This really is a beautiful tree.”
Me: “It’s my kids’ climbing tree. We love this tree.”
Gaggle of city workers: “We’ll be really careful. We just have to cut it back a little.”
Me: “Ok. By that I hope you mean you’ll pantomime cutting and leave the tree alone.”
Gaggle of city workers: (laughing) We promise we won’t cut any of the climbing branches. We just need to trim it.”
In retrospect I should have either provide more of a backstory on the significance of THE TUNNEL OF LOVE or made a bigger spectacle by chaining myself to the tree, but…I had a yoga class to get to.
I returned all zen to find THE TUNNEL OF LOVE was no longer. So screw that gaggle of city workers and the crotchety pedestrian who couldn’t bear to walk through a tiny slice of heaven. They are on my official shit list.
Namaste.
Save This Weekly Meal Plan to Your Pinterest Dinner Board!
Monday: (Slow Cooker) Brown Sugar Balsamic Pork Tenderloin (Hands On: 15 minutes, Slow Cooker: 6-8 hours), Salt Potatoes, applesauce
Tuesday: Sweet and Spicy Tacos (Hands On: 25 minutes Bake: 30-40 minutes) While taco meat is baking, prepare lime cilantro sour cream and get taco fixings ready.
Wednesday: Use leftovers from Sweet and Spicy Tacos for taco salads (lettuce, black beans, tomatoes, avocado, cheese, tortilla chips) for adults and Quick & Easy Taco Dogs for kids (use taco salad ingredients for toppings), fruit (Hands On: 15 minutes)
Thursday: Easy Cream of Tomato Soup (Hands On: 15 minutes, Bake: 50 minutes), grilled cheese sandwiches (can throw any leftovers in the fridge to fancy them up)
Friday: Grilled Chicken Sausages, Grilled Foil Potatoes, corn on the cob
Weekend Baking / Cooking: I need to make a large batch of Instant Pot Yogurt for school mornings. I have some frozen overripe bananas, so I’m going to use them in these Banana Bars with Maple Brown Sugar Frosting
Check out last Week’s Meal Plan!
John says
Ryan should write a textbook on parenting. He is a genius. I wish I would have thought of teaching my children that. I absolutely love the family stories. I can’t stop laughing.
Melissa says
Is Ryan the genius or Finn? Maybe Finn should seek out a book deal…