I know Karate....

I remember taking shopping trips with my mother as a kid. Like all kids do, I often wandered away sometimes to the next isle. Like all mothers do, she would warn me about the dangers of wandering to far. Now years later I am the mom and my kids are the wanderers.

On Saturday we took a family trip to the huge two-story Target. It has lots of cool stuff to look at and many isles. While trying to decide on a particular bedding, I noticed that my eldest daughter began to wander out of sight. Quickly I followed her as she went over to the next isle to look at what I am sure was a shiny object. I then began the "Mother" speech (The speech handed down through generations of mothers to aid in situations where children who suffer from Shiny Object Syndrome do goofy or sometimes dangerous things).

"Do You Know What Could Happen To You If You Wander Off? Do You Know How Easy It Would Be For A Kidnapper To Walk By And Snatch You Up? Do You Know How Dangerous That Is?"

Then my eldest daughter without even a slight hesitation replied with extreme certainty, "No It Wouldn't! A Kidnapper Couldn't Take Me, I KNOW KARATE! I Would Use It To Chop Them."

By this time her father with the other Wild Things came around the corner. It was all he could do to keep from smirking. I without response to her statement turned away to chuckle as well. Once we were composed enough, we tried our best to explain that dangers are sometimes too great to be conquered by mere Karate.

I am a hyper paranoid parent when it comes to keeping my children safe. You have to be these days with all the evil lurking about to harm your kids. I try my best to keep watch over my Wild Things, but even moms sometimes can't be everywhere all the time. It makes me feel good to know that she is at least prepared to do something should she ever find herself in trouble. She is little but she is mighty! Plus, little big sister has a heck of right hook and seriously strong kicking leg...and she knows Karate!

Just Hand Over The Cookies....

I have been an avid supporter of Girl Scout cookies for as long as I can remember. I heart those cookies great big. So sad to me that my season of cookie eating is coming to a close and will have to wait til another year.

Since the dawn of my knowledge of Girl Scout Cookies I have made it a point not to miss a season. However, now that I am on my last box I reminded of the season I did miss because of the Wild Things.

One morning about a year ago now there is a great commotion happening outside of my bedroom door while I was getting ready for the day. Since we had only had our kids for about three months at that time I quickly opened the door fearing that someone was hurt.

When I opened the door, there they were...three little Wild Things holding a box of Girl Scout Cookies in each hand. The ruckus I heard was the stomping of their excitement that a "girl" came to the door and just gave them these boxes of cookies!

I am still in my pajamas, hair wrapped up in a towel and I am barreling down the stairs yelling at the kids to return the cookies to the girl. By the time I got to the wide open door, the poor little Girl Scout had snatched back her boxes, threw them into the wagon, and was running away from our house down the side walk. Leaving my poor little cookie thieves in disappointment and my hope of buying cookies shot.

After that there wasn't a Girl Scout that came with in a mile of our house. I am almost certain that the word had been spread about our address. I was cookie-less the rest of the season.

I would like to think that the Wild Things well calculated attempt to heist the cookies the previous year was just an innocent mistake of how cookie buying works and cookie thieving rehabilitation is possible. In all honesty, I think that our address will remain on the black listed. I supposed the family that moves in after us will be wondering why no one comes to their door next year to sell them cookies. To them all I can do is apologize. Lucky for us, I was able to buy some cookies from a friend this year.

We've since moved and are starting over in a new city. No one knows that our kids are former notorious cookie thieves and I plan to keep it that way!

But word of advice to the Girl Scouts coming to our house...leave your wagon out of sight until you see an adult present, if not who knows how the Wild Things may react.

The Wild Things...

I can remember a time in my life when it was a lot quieter and I could take naps if I wanted. That was before I had my children, The Wild Things.

I technically didn't have them...as they are all adopted. By all, I mean three. I have three tiny humans (two daughters and a son) we adopted about a year ago and they remind me of the Wild Things.

Yes, my quiet life as I knew is no more. My husband and I are now the head wranglers of three of the most unique, intelligent, and mischievous little beings you'll ever meet. Our house is seldom ever quiet and when it is you know that they are all up to something. They require vast amounts of food (mostly hamburgers), clothing, and hand sanitizer.

Our daily adventures together are never dull and are almost always full of some kind of calamity. They are a rowdy bunch and keep life interesting. I do my best to keep up with them...Thank goodness for Dr. Pepper!

I feel very blessed to have the privilege of being their mother and I wouldn't change a thing about my experiences with them...except the gray hair!

It’s my hope that you enjoy reading about them as much as I get to enjoy raising them.

-L.J.