I was geared up to do what I do best: mom duties. I'm not a professional yet, but I'm eight years experienced in this department, so I felt more than ready to help with mommy responsibilities in anyway I was able.
Very quickly, however, I sensed something different - something for which I was not prepared. For a few hours, I couldn't quite put my finger on it; but then, I had the drastic realization. The understanding that Erin's kids were.....good.
There were times during the week when I saw an image: an angelic presence, calm and quiet, surrounded by small beings with their hands folded asking the hallowed presence for more vegetables. When I'd shake my head and rub my eyes, I'd look again. Sure enough. There sat my sister as calm and collected as any mom I'd seen during the dinner time hour while her three year old daughter asked for more broccoli.
Our dinner time is just plain different.
During our second day in Savannah, Bekah and I geared up for a trip to Walmart with Lydia and Hudson. We had our list, water cups, coats and shoes. I knew, though, that we could not leave without the snacks. The snacks are vital in our household for getting through Walmart trips. I am forever grateful to the M&M manufacturer as well as the Dum Dum distributors, both of which have made my shopping trips somewhat doable.
I couldn't find lolypops in my sisters pantry, so I went for the Auntie Anns Honey Bunnies. They looked sweet enough to keep two toddlers occupied.
While getting ready to head out, Erin made sure that we had a snack for the kids. I was about to tell her that I was one step ahead when the word, "apples," came out of her mouth.
"Just slice up an apple and put them in a zip lock bag," were my sisters instructions. And that was it. I was waiting for the "and then top it with chocolate or caramel sauce," but no. Apples were apparently going to keep them occupied at Walmart. I was more than skeptical, but knew that Walmart offered an array of candies when (not if) they would be necessary. So, we were out the door, apple slices and all.
It wasn't long before I once again felt out of my element. I was not entirely sure about myself when I put Lydia and Hudson in the cart, and they stayed there.
I walked through Walmart with my head held high. I wanted to sing praises to my niece and nephew! But then, as we walked through the store, I began to speculate. Surely they misbehave. Surely! Maybe she feeds them something that wires their behavioral mechanisms in a particular way. Perhaps it was something I just hadn't discovered yet.
The apples. It was the apples. At the first sign of Hudson becoming the least bit restless, I offered the snack: "Does anyone want....apples?" I said it like a temptress, luring them down the path of no return.
"Apples, apples!" They began to chant. Seriously. They chanted.
So, I gave them their prized possession and they ate the slices in the same way that my two year old eats M&M's. With the passion that my toddler savors her lolly pops and with the attention that she gives to smarties. They were distracted....by the apples. They behaved....because of the apples.
Although I did not admit my sense of inadequacy around her dear children by the end of the week, I made a decision that I was going to try some of my sister's tactics when I returned home. And it was going to start with apples. Besides, I convinced myself, my toddler's good too. Yes, we were going to begin with apples.
The Monday after I returned home, Lily and I took a trip to Walmart. I had her water, I had her coat and shoes, and I had...apples.
I will never bring apples to Walmart again. They caused tears for both of us, and it was less than twenty minutes before we were in the candy aisle purchasing a pack of M&M's.
The next morning, I needed some quiet. Some solace. It had been a hard week (and it was only Tuesday), so I put Sesame street on for Lily while I made some coffee. I sat at the table reading my Bible for a few precious moments until lily came in the kitchen, opened the pantry, and said, "napkins will make it all better."
"Uh-huh. They will make it better." I was lost in Daniel's faith as he stood at the thresh hold of the fiery furnace. It was a delayed reaction, but thankfully I "came to." I looked up from the Bible to see what exactly the napkins will "make better."
I don't usually react well when it comes to stressful situations. We had a fire in the kitchen not too long ago. I can testify to the fact that screaming does not put out flames. Thankfully, my husband knew this fact and used water. Thankfully.
So, true to my nature, when I saw the entire bottle of hot pink nail polish spread out on the living room floor, I did not clamor for someone to bring me wet towels. I merely stood and stared. I began thinking about the large dinner party that we had the next night. And then, as I watched the neon liquid soaking deeper into my white carpet, I began thinking about Lydia and Hudson. If only Lily would eat apples.
It was then that I received a call. A call straight from heaven. It was my sister, Erin.
"So, I just spend the morning scrubbing marker off of everything! My kids colored everywhere but the paper! I'm putting Lydia and Hudson's markers and crayons away for good."
I thought about asking her if she fed them their apples. But instead, I just smiled and looked at my pink puddle.
Kids are kids....apples or not.
