The Last Request

Yesterday afternoon, I received a phone call at work from my oldest son.
"Mom?" he asked, "Can you bring some Skittles home with you tonight?".

I started to ask "why?" and then I remembered. "No problem" I replied. "Anything else?"

"No, that will do it", he sighed.

When I came home, I promptly pulled three packets of Skittles from my purse and tossed them on the kitchen table. The faces on all three boys lit up. Until I said, "These are just for Devon!". And then I had two pouting boys.

"No fair!" my middle son whined.

"Plenty fair!" I replied. " Tomorrow your brother gets braces and won't be able to eat these for the next year. At Halloween, he will be sharing the candy he can't eat with you. If and when you get braces, I'll do the same for you."

As I watched my eldest son gobble up his "last request", I tried not to think of the long and painful road ahead. For both of us.

His mouth and my pocketbook!

See related post Reason to Have Children - V

Holy Halloween, Batman!

As usual this Halloween, I stayed home to hand out candy ( microwave popcorn ) while my husband took my boys trick-or-treating. This year my middle child was sick and had to stay home with me. His brothers took an extra bag to collect candy for him but it wasn't the same.

My poor sick child took me up on my suggestion to dress up in his Harry Potter costume and stand behind me as I greeted the Trick-or-Treaters that came to our door. We didn't get very many "guests" and he ended up passed out on the couch.

My 10 year old put a do-rag around his head, borrowed a red cape from an old Superman costume and carried his trusty sword to go as a "Swordsman". My 6 year old wore a Batman costume that was handed down from his brothers.

After a few years of practice, my little Batman had a plan of attack. He found the shortest route between houses, even if this meant cutting though flowerbeds and bushes, to get to the next house. He would rush to the door, pushing in front of all the other children and quickly ring the doorbell.
As soon as he got his treats, he would scamper off to the next stop.

A four year old neighbor, dressed as a skeleton observed this technique and turned to his mother.
" That kid knows what he is doing! I'm going with him!" he exclaimed as he took off running.
" Wait up Batman! Wait-up, wait-up!"

His mother's protest fell on deaf ears. " Honey, I think he is too fast for you." At this point the boys were about five houses ahead of their respective groups.

Sorry Robin, it looks like Batman has a new sidekick.