Ganging Up

While Kyle was in Maryland for his grandmother's funeral, Owen and Stewart decided it would be a good time to gang up on me, Evil Mom Extraordinaire.

It would have been bad enough if it was just the usual fighting, cranking, hijinks (Owen "washing" his underwear in the toilet, for example) and ill-advised games that involve jumping onto or off of things.

But instead they decided to double team me on the discipline front. As Stewart blatantly ignored me or kicked me, and I threatened to spank, Owen cried "Don't spank Stewie! No! Stewie a good boy!" and tried to forcibly remove my hands from Stewart.

After the spanking was administered, whereupon Stewart giggled as if the whole thing had been an interesting game, Owen started giggling too, and slapping his knee. "No no no! Bad knee!" he mocked, and Stewart instantly joined the game.

What can you do? I just laughed and now every now and then the boys discipline their knees.

Rest in peace, Joan. We will miss you.

My prayers go out to Pat, Janet and Jim as they deal with the loss of their mother and to all connected with them.

Joan was truly a great lady. She spent her time on Earth caring for the people around her by raising three wonderful children, by being a the kind of grandmother and great-grandmother who always overlooked mistakes but never forgot a birthday, by driving for Meals on Wheels for more than twenty years to help the elderly, by giving her time and money to other wonderful charities like The Shepherd's Table, by being one of the core members of the Lutheran Church in Silver Spring and a part of all its good works.

I can honestly say that she's one of the greatest people I've ever met and someone whose example I would like to follow.

I will also just plain miss seeing her big smile.