"Pay no attention to the anti-itch cream on the floor"

We are just back from a weekend camping trip with the Ruoff clan and everyone is riddled with bug bites.  Kevin came in to ask me if we have any hydocortizone and I directed him to the drawer in the bathroom.

He obviously found it because I just walked into the family room and as I passed him sitting on the stairs he says, "Pay no attention to the anti-itch cream on the floor."  Took me a second or two to double back, but, sure enough, there is a big glob of hydrocortizone on the floor. Ugh!

See, babies and young children are easier...if Daniel had a bug bite (or 15 as the case may be with Kevin), I would be putting on the anti-itch cream and it would NOT be on the floor.

Enabling

I've decided that I'm an enabler. I enable my kids to be less organized and less responsible than they should be and could be. I guess all moms do this to a certain extent because the idea of watching them fall on their face is difficult. And, let's face it, a major reflection on us.

Here are two examples, both from this morning.

At 6:30 this morning Brooke came into my room and told me that the 3rd payment for her Disney trip is due today. Seriously? She couldn't have mentioned this yesterday? Nope. So, instead of having her tell the band director that she forgot it and would bring it on Monday, I got out of bed and filled out the payment coupon and off she went.

Fast forward 35 minutes, Kevin has left for the bus and the phone rings. Surprise! It's Kevin. He left the school's flip video camera on the railing. Can I bring it to him at the bus stop! OK. Now I am in my bathrobe and slippers and it is snowing out. So, what do I do? I grab my jacket and keys and drive around the corner, in the snow, in my bathrobe and slippers to give him the camera. No motivation whatsoever for him to not make the same mistake again.

Or is there?

I'm thinking that there will be a list of chores for both of my forgetful friends when they get home from school. There has got to be a price to pay for them... and a reward for me.

Correction

I hate to keep harping on Kevin's wrestling/hair issue, but I need to set the record straight.

It is not a hair net that I need to get. It is a "stocking cap". Eric learned this last night while talking to the father of an African American boy that Kevin wrestles with. His older son wrestles and wears this "stocking cap" because he has long braided hair! Ughh!

I'm told I can get one at Walmart. But where in Walmart? I guess I'll have to ask someone. That ought to be interesting.

And now I promise I will change the subject.

There is hope! Or not.

Kevin just left for wrestling. But not before freaking out about putting his headgear on with his hair without making himself look "creepy". I guess the first time he put it on he pushed his bangs back under it -- giving him the "creepy" look. He did manage to find a look that worked for him. However, his hair keeps getting stuck in the velcro! I just about busted a gut trying not to laugh out loud listening to the sounds of pain as he pulled his hair out of the velcro strap.

It's going to be a long wrestling season... or maybe not. Maybe he will cave and get a hair cut. I know. I'm living in a fantasy world. But a girl can dream, can't she?

This long hair really is important!

Kevin and Mark are both sporting long hair these days (see Halloween and pumpkin picking pictures). I keep waiting for something to come along that will inspire them to cut it.

First, I thought it might be swimming. Kevin's was long enough that it got in his face a bit while he was competing on the swim team this past summer. His answer -- he wore a bathing cap!

Now wrestling season is upon us. Again, I saw a glimmer of hope that this might be just the ticket. Unfortunately, he announced at dinner tonight that he has a solution. He will put his hair in a pony tail and wear a hair net!!! WTF! Does the boy have no pride! He'd rather wear a hair net than get his hair cut! I don't get it. All I know is that I need to go out tomorrow to buy a hair net for my 11 year old son and I have an issue with that!