Cheer Me Up, Dammit.

There was a little game of touch football going on around me as I was putting the final touches on dinner (Kansas City Barbecued Brisket, and stove top mac-n-cheese – not from the blue box.  It was delicious.) this evening.  As these sorts of indoor-games-that-belong-outside tend to do, it got out of hand and Mike ended up whacking his hand hard against the kitchen counter.

I heard the thwack! and then I heard the one word that we're never supposed to utter in front of children, the one that rhymes with duck.  Just in case Eli didn't hear it the first time loud and clear, he hopped around the kitchen and said it a few more times for good measure.

Now, I'm no prude.  I have a bit of a potty mouth myself, and I have to try really hard not to let those gems drop into normal conversation when the kids are around.  I'd be a hypocrite to jump all over Mike's case for letting a less-than-polite word slip out.  Instead, I snickered at him and said, "Nice one."  What can I say?  There are certain moments that call for a good swear word, and extreme bodily pain is one of them.  I'm gonna venture a guess that both of my kids probably heard something along the same lines right as they were entering this world.

The game was instantly over and we all moved on.  Eli settled into a quieter activity, a nice puzzle.  As we were setting the table, we heard him grumbling and moaning about a piece that wouldn't cooperate.  He stood up to observe the good-for-nothing puzzle, puts his hands on his hips, and sighed, "Dammit."

There are some who say that God doesn't have a sense of humor.  But I'm sorry, if that were true?  You wouldn't have kids that can't pronounce the simplest of words for people around them to understand, but can drop a swear word clear as crystal.

I was having kind of a grumpy day, for no other reason that it was a grumpy kind of day.  I don't know what it says about my parenting, but that swear word cheered me up.  It cheered me up in a way that only a good swear word, spoken with the right emphasis and used in the appropriate context can.  

If you're feeling saucy, feel free to share your favorite swear word.  I think it might just make my day.

And now, because nothing mixes like a campaign from church and some good old swearing, here's my reflection on the 29 Days of Giving.  You can read the rest of the series here.

Today I Gave:  Elena a little note in her lunch.  I told her I hoped she was having a good day, and that we're really proud of how hard she's been working in school.  She's been doing so well the last month or so, getting her work plan done, being respectful, and helping others.  It's easy to get on her for everything we'd like her to do better, it's harder to remember to praise her for a job well done.  I try to remind myself that it doesn't take much to build a child up, but it means so much to them.

Today I Received:  A break from the twice daily commute to school.  My dad picked up Elena today.  You know what I'm noticing so far?  It's the gifts of service that mean the most to me.  Don't get me wrong, things are nice.  I like it when people give me gifts.  Doing something so I don't have to, though, means so much in this season in my life.  It lifts a burden, and no matter how light the burden, it feels really nice.  So thanks, Dad.