January 25, 2009

• The Sunday Wait & Playing with Fire

  Lots of things I’m waiting for today.  Some things have already happened.

  What’s Happened:
  *  My ribs are much better, with no pain (but I’m still being careful)
  *  I did a few things around the house PLUS had time to read, yesterday
  *  Annamarie is much better, no ear or throat pain
  *  Jesse made it to Texas safely (found an uncle had just been hospitalized, Jesse was glad he made the trip)
  *  Sushi has learned “blanket time” – can you believe it?!!

  What I’m Waiting For:
  *  Jesse to return home safely
  *  Grocery staples to be purchased
  *  The winter storm (ice) to arrive (“they” think)
  *  My sanity to return

  “My sanity?” you ask.

  Yesterday my house was possessed with bad pets and children.  I say that with tongue in cheek, but then again . . . part of me wonders if “bad” floats around and then decends on a house.  Maybe it’s the impending storm  . . . you know how cattle and other animals get restless? . . . 

  The pets were (literally) at each other’s throats AND Sushi has learned to bite and pull the girls’ hair.  Funny at first, but not any more.  Also, Sushi has learned she has a voice, and, when excited or provoked, she barks repeatedly over and over and over – like the neighbor’s dog in the backyard who wants back in!  After the third barking episode, I held my finger to my lips, covered her mouth like a muzzle and said, “shhhhhhh!”   Hopefully she’ll learn that as quickly as she picked up “blanket time.” 

  Mean while . . . “Playing with Fire”

  I was at the computer listening to a CD from Charity Gospel Tape Ministry that my friend, Tina, sent me a long time ago.  It wasn’t until yesterday that I listened to it.  Only into the first part, I can tell this will be excellent teaching.  “The Godly Home.”  I listened for quite a while to the first 3 messages (the CD is crammed FULL of messages) about a Christian Home, how it is built, and, soon, the lessons will direct parents on raising children.

  God (now, I’m SURE it was Him) urged me to check on the girls in the den.  They weren’t being particularly disruptive or loud, nor were they fighting.  They were enjoying the warmth of the fireplace and had a movie in the den’s TV.  I heard them talking and giggling.  But, the urge wouldn’t leave me alone, so I walked to the den to check on them. 

  There, I found Annamarie with a stick of wood from the wood bin, holding the bottom with a *paper* napkin, and the other end was on fire – at least red ember tip!  My mouth dropped and Luci and Rissy scattered.  I blinked.  Surely what I saw wasn’t what I saw?!!!! 

  I asked quietly, “What are you doing?”  Annamarie held up her glowing stick and said, “It’s my sword!”  (They’ve been watching “The Sword in the Stone” – mine & Jesse’s fault for allowing it) 

  I took the stick and the napkin and said, “Watch what happens to this napkin when fire reachs it,” and threw both the stick and paper napkin into the fireplace.  The napkin flared on fire in one great poof and then disappeared into smoke – just that quick!  I told them I couldn’t believe (after all the health & safety classes we’ve had about dangerous play) that they would play in the fireplace AND that no one would come tell me.  I was so angry, I sent them to bed.  I never raised my voice – I was too angry.  I never spanked them – I was too angry.

  They slept and I tried to process what had just happened.  I feel like I handle most things really well and nothing leaves me clueless . . . but, this time, I was clueless.  After I finished cooking dinner, I went to their rooms and told them to get up and get ready for dinner.  I had a talk with them at the table.  Ends up all THREE of them had been doing the same thing.  Annamarie just happened to have a fiery stick when I walked in the room.  Luci said she shouldn’t be in trouble like her sisters were because she didn’t do what they did . . . SHE had been *sitting on the sofa* with her stick on fire.  (oh, thank you God for telling me to check on them!)

  I told them I no longer trusted them.  I said it never occurred to me that while they played in the den, and I sat at my desk, they could potentially have set the house on fire!  I especially couldn’t believe they were soon to be 9yo, 8yo (and, Luci who is 6 1/2yo) and SHOULD know the difference.  I DID tell them we could have lost our pets, clothes, food, furniture, AND caught the neighbor’s houses on fire  . . .   I also told them, “Thank God, He told me to check on you.”  It was an excellent lesson about God ALWAYS “seeing” what is going on and I pointed out that fact.

  Today, Rissy wanted to fix breakfast and I told her she couldn’t because I didn’t trust her around fire (we have a gas stove).  She just now asked if I’d like her to bake the cake mix on the bar, but I said she couldn’t because I no longer trusted her, especially around fire.

  I don’t know how long it will take for this “I no longer trust you” lesson to take hold, but I’m certain they will NEVER play with fire again.  Well, as certain as a mother with younger children can be, I guess.  Jesse couldn’t believe I didn’t spank, yell, or lose my temper.  I guess hearing me “speechless” doesn’t happen very often around here!  But I was just that – speechless.

  Jesse just called and has already left to head home.  I’m glad.  I was hoping he’d come back a little early, rather than tonight.  Things seem to run smoother when he’s around.  Maybe the whole bad “let’s play with fire” idea was made because Dad was out of town and we all sensed the loss from our family unit. 

  Be Blessed  ~

  • 12:09 pm
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