My Seussical Life for 2004 October 22

I decided tonight to dust the boy's fan, and in doing so, I had to dust all the furniture, as the dust rained down all over the boy's room. I began knowing that I had pasta boiling on the stove. I moved a chair under the fan and wiped the dust away from the fan blades, until the moment I thought the pasta was done cooking. I put the wood polish oil up on top of the high bookshelf, and left for mere moments to drain the pasta, not thinking anything of the chair I'd left conveniently behind.

Children create an amazing amount of damage at lightning speed when they know their time is limited.

When I came back into the room, the boys were smiling their devilish smiles, and Samuel had, in hand, the spray bottle of wood oil. He aimed a spray at me as I came close. Imagine my fury. I even yelled, I was so mad. They had sprayed toys, the wall, all over the carpeting so that my toes were squeaking as I walked across the floor. They even sprayed each other.

Their feelings were hurt after I had finished scolding them, so hurt that they cried out mournfully in unison the most punishing words a mother could hear after such an interaction: "I WANT PAPA!!"

I said my sorries and gave many kisses, still fuming a little, but feeling badly that I had reacted so.