Hygiene

In my experience, 11YO boys aren't very clean. They don't bathe on their own. They don't comb their hair. They would never brush their teeth without being told. They don't use napkins. And never touch their hands, because I'm sure they don't wash after using the bathroom.

That's why I'm constantly nagging the Brain about hygiene. I must remind him every day. All day. It's a never-ending battle. That's why I was so shocked when, as we gathered our things for school, I asked him if he had brushed his teeth, and he said, "Yes." 

I nearly fell over in shock. 

"You did?" I asked. 

"Yes," he repeated. 

"I'm so proud of you! Thank you for brushing your teeth before I had to remind you," I gushed. "That's amazing!" 

"Well," he said, "We are dancing in P.E. today. I thought the girls might want me to brush my teeth."

There's hope for him yet.

An Innocent Question

Second grade girl in my class: Mrs. JustJennifer, what is this thing in the back of my book?

Me: That is a card librarians used to check books out to people before there were computers. You would write your name on it so that the librarian would know who had checked it out.

Girl: [eyebrows furloughed in a confused look] You mean, like in the OLDEN DAYS?

Deep Thoughts by The Brain

Rainy morning drive to school

The Brain: Look, Mom! A rainbow!

Me: Wow! That's beautiful! Thanks for pointing it out to me!

The Brain: Can we go look for the pot of gold?

Me: Funny, son.

The Brain: I know what the real pot of gold is at the end of the rainbow. It's just the enjoyment of being at the end of the rainbow.

Me: Yeah, unfortunately, when you get close, it disappears.

The Brain: Well, maybe rainbows are everywhere; we're just too close to see them.

Hmmm. Something to ponder.

Served

 The Brain is practicing for a Bible drill. He must learn 25 Bible verses, be able to locate 10 key passages, and quickly turn to any book in the Bible, while the reciting the books which precede and follow it. Every morning on the way to school, he and I practice his verses. We have learned 19 from both the Old and New Testaments.

This morning, as usual, I handed him my iPad and told him begin reciting. As usual, he moaned and began begging me to let him have the day off from recitations. As usual, I reminded him of the importance of repetition for memorization. As usual, he began negotiating with me to be able to do it at a later time. And, as usual, he tried to dictate to me the manner in which he would participate.

"Fine," he said. "I'm only going to learn the new verse today, not say all of the others."

Not the hill I wanted to die on, so I remained silent as he looked up the new verse.

He began to read, " Colossians 3:23 - Whatever you do, do it enthusiastically as something done for the Lord and not for men." He began to laugh silently and shake his head as the realization of what he had read began to sink in.

"I think I just got served," he said.

"By the Lord?" I replied.

"Yeah."

Thus saith the Lord. Amen.

A First

A new experience for the new year: The Brain got his first pimple. It's smack dab in the middle of his cheek. He tried to tell me it was a mosquito bite - in the middle of winter. I guess it bothered him all evening long because at bedtime, he came to me and asked if for his "mid-year" resolution he could get rid of his pimple. Poor thing is worried that the kids at school will make fun of him tomorrow. He's hoping it will disappear overnight. I hope so, too.

Ohhh!

The Brain learned that saying "Cathrope" doesn't keep you from being tickled. 

2014 Haiku

Love God, love others.

These things are most important.

My resolution.