Giggles

Almost every day something happens that I think "I need to write this down".  Then life gets busy and when I have a moment to breathe, I a) don't feel like writing it down and wrestling with octopus Gemma over the phone/computer or b) I can't remember what was so funny.


I have a few memories llllooooooonnnng overdue and I perhaps have even written about them here before.  However, in the last few days they keep resurfacing over and over.  And every time I think about them I giggle.  So, here is a post about things that make me giggle.

#1 - William was maybe 3?  We were struggling with some problem behaviors and our method of dealing was time outs.  William would sit in the assigned Time Out Chair for 3 minutes when he was not exhibiting the behavior we expected.  Because I tend to not pay attention to time AT ALL, I always set the oven timer to remind myself when the time out was supposed to be over.  Left to my own timing skills, it could be anywhere from 4 hours to 2 days before I noticed my child was still in time out (still true, x3).

One particularly difficult day, William served many time outs in his Time Out Chair.  Later in the evening, we were making something in the oven (likely a frozen pizza.  we are super gourmet that way), and the oven timer went off.  William's head whipped up and with wide, wide eyes asked "Who is in time out now?"

I was laughing so hard I could hardly answer.  "No one," I finally replied.

"But....the timer....." he trailed off.

And then we had to explain that the oven timer wasn't only for his time outs.  It had other uses as well....


#2

In June, we were at the Lake of the Ozarks for my work conference.  The resort had a lovely pool and our room was conveniently located adjacent to the pool.  Only it turns out to be very difficult to swim for enjoyment when you have 3 kids at the following levels:

1) child believes he can swim.  Has no fear and is not worried.  Totally confident in his own skills.  Reality: He cannot swim for distances greater than 3 feet.  While we have made great stride, we still aren't there.  In this pool, he cannot quite touch the bottom, which means he needs to be holding on to someone/something any time he is in the pool AND be closely supervised due to his overconfidence in his own skills.

2) Cannot swim and knows it.  Has a healthy fear of the water and has to be convinced every time to get in.  Cannot touch the bottom and must hang on to someone/something the entire time while in the pool.

3) Cannot swim and doesn't care.  Love to splash/kick/wiggle at random times.  Slippery when wet plus the wiggly component plus the no fear attitude means extreme caution must be used.  Whoever is in charge of this child much be very vigilant.


After discussing with coworkers, one wondered why I didn't bring floaties for the kids so it wouldn't be so stressful.  My mouth gaped like a fish as I asked myself "Why?  Why?  Why didn't that occur to me?"

Floaties were promptly acquired and inflated for pool use the following day.  William loved the arm floaties in particular.  He paddled around with them on and tormented his sister by considering letting her have a try.....but, no.

What happened next could have been a different story, but since it turned out okay it has now become funny.  Hilarious in my mind even.

All 5 of us are paddling around in the pool.  John and I are holding Gemma and Amelia.  We switch as needed by request or to assist the other child (ie: I took Amelia to the bathroom).  William was paddling between John and I, taking the time to torment and tease his sister through both splashing and offers to share the floaties.

When I looked up next, I noticed William hanging onto the edge, removing the arm floaties, and putting them on the edge of the pool.  I looked away to check briefly on the girls and when I looked back, William was struggling to put the floaties back on.  He was putting them back on his legs.  His legs are so slender that the floaties slid alllllll the way on up to his thighs.

One beat later, the floaties did exactly what they were designed to do.  They floated.  They floated to the surface of the water with William's skinny chicken legs still firmly attached.

William was totally not prepared and was swept off his feet.  The look on his face was total disbelief and confusion.  His head came close to going under and I reached out to grab him.  Baby under 1 arm, big kid under the other.

The look of shock, confusion, disbelief and outrage STILL sends me into a fit of giggles.  We then went on to chat about why that wasn't a good idea and how the floaties needed to stay on his arms, etc.

Less than 10 minutes later, I looked over and he was again removing the floaties from his arm and putting it on his leg.  Although it was funny the first time, now it was serious and get got out of the pool.  Out we went and back to our room.