“Mommy, we’re going to play in here. You stay out!” orders Julius, my five-year old with my four year-old niece Layla, standing behind him like muscle in a pink tutu.
They are in my seven year-old son’s bedroom looking extremely cute and extremely suspicious.
“Hey, not so fast Bubs. What’s going on?”
“Nothing, Stinky Pants.” My niece pipes up with the softest, sweetest voice. Think Snow White on helium.
“We’re just playing puppies, Mommy. Now go way!”
He almost pushes me out the door and then those extremely cute little rats move to shut the door in my face. Well, that’s not going to happen. I place a firm hand, stopping it. “Puppies, the door stays open. No shutting the door. Okay?”
“Okay!” They are just a few years short of rolling their eyes, but their “okay” is dripping in barely concealed superiority and irritation.
I give them a warning look, but it holds no bite, they are just so damn cute.
I leave them to play and walk into my bedroom to fold laundry. Giggling and hushed voices are my music. I fold a few shirts but their giggling is so giggly, I can’t concentrate. I sneak over and peer into the other room.
They are rolling around, like puppies, I guess. Or maybe like dogs in heat? I don’t know. They are innocent babies but still, it doesn’t look good. Yeah, we need to break this party up.
“Knock knock, little puppies!” I call out and walk into the room. “What’s going on here?”
Julius comes over, looking a little sheepish, but I’m not sure if it’s because I’m ruining the game or because I’m ruining his game, if you know what I mean. “We’re just playing puppies.” There’s a sheesh that doesn’t verbally come out, but I hear it.
“Okay, but no more rolling over each other. I don’t want any puppies to get hurt.”
“Okay.” They nod, their curls bobbing up and down in unison.
I head back to fold the laundry, but I’ve got my ear on the other room. There’s some pounding and running round. There’s a bunch of laughing and then nothing. Quiet. Too quiet. I realize I’ve paired three pairs of socks and I haven’t heard a peep from them. Time for a check in. I pad my way over.
Oh no.
Layla is laying on the carpet immobile, her shirt is somewhat lifted and Julius has his hand on her belly.
“Puppies!” I call out a little too loudly. “What is going on here?”
Julius is quick to explain, “She got hurt and needed to go to the puppy doctor.”
Of course. I mean come on, they’re in nursery, but still, I was beginning to feel a little uncomfortable. We’re a close family, but we’re not into kissing cousins.
The cutest couple …of cousins!
“Listen pups, how bout we head downstairs and I get you guys a snack. You must be very hungry puppies. Maybe I’ll make s’mores?”
That did it. Both puppies were up, wagging their tails and bouncing over. Once again, sugar saves the day.
Later, Layla is back home and my older pups come bounding in from the bus.
“Mom!” Michael, my second grader yells, dropping his backpack and heading straight for the phone, “I made a play date with Sarah and Gillian.”
“Both of them?” I ask, although I shouldn’t be surprised. Michael loves the ladies.
“Yep, they’re coming over.”
And they do. Two adorable, sweet and shy seven year-old girls.
Immediately, the three of them pound up the stairs to his room. Boom boom boom. Slam.
Sigh. Here we go again. With three boys, I’m sensing big trouble in the future.
I walk the steps slowly, preparing for my second intervention of the day. There’s that cute giggling again. And it looks like the lights are out in his room.
Big. Trouble.
“Who wants s’mores?” I call out and open the door.
Well, at least they’re not related.
Michael and one of his best gals. Trouble. Big.
Icescreammama 
HA! Love it! Just wait till you have to put in place the door always open rule! Love the s’mores idea-smart mama!
i’m more afraid when i’ll be leaving the dish at the closed door!! 😉
So funny and well written. You’re a good mama.
thank you. really. smore?
How can I not love and laugh at this post? 🙂
I have to agree – Sugar always saves the day.
oh yes — your household is going to have the most delicious reputation.. What’s better then a little sugar 🙂 🙂
Oh man–you are gonna have your hands full. Keep that door open! 🙂
i’m certainly going to try. but i may have to remove the doors.
“Giggling and hushed voices are my music.” Love. As Usual.:)
I think I’ll try yelling “s’mores” next time one of the girls vanish to the deep recesses of the house with one of their boyfriends. 🙂
Kids are starting so early these days, aren’t they? Reminds me of a Deep Thoughts by Jack Handy quote: “I believe in making the world a better place for our children, but not for our children’s children, because our children are too young to be having sex!” 🙂
yes, but not as early as 7 and 5! haha
Your boys are such ladies men 🙂
it’s true. 🙂
I like your s’mores tactic! I’m going to remember that when I have kids.
works with adults too. haha
So cute! One of my 9yo son’s best friend is a girl. So far there’s nothing suspicious going on, whew.
it’s all innocent and suspicious at the same time… i just see the future…
Crikey, I’d be taking that door off its hinges….
So laughing! Oh my gosh, my 7-yr-old only child’s best friend is my 5-yr-old niece, who is also an only. Their favorite game? Husband and wife. Yeah, there’s no door closing during that game. The upside? I’ve been to about 100 weddings!
They start earlier and earlier these days. I don’t blame you for being a little paranoid.
i mean, it really all is very innocent, but girls will be girls and boys will be boys. they are in training..
I love your writing! So funny and subtly descriptive. Now, about those kissing cousins – well handled. And yes trouble is in your future – your boys are way too cute to not be trouble!
thank you on all accounts. it’s so cute and innocent but… i see what’s coming…. i’m already warning all the girl moms in the neighborhood. 😉
You’re such a good mama. And smart, with the smores! You’ll definitely have your hands full, but I’ve no doubt you’ll roll with it just as easily as you did with these.
thank you. with all the s’mores, i may be rolling a bit more than i like. 😉
Oh my!!!!I I CAN NOT wait to read the posts that come out of these growing up years. Those pictures are gorgeous (or maybe it’s the subjects ;-)). No matter how many generations grow up, we all play some form of “doctor”. Fun, fun!
it’s true. kids are kids and will play at being adults or doctors or whatever.. it’s all adorable… but i may not say so in a couple of years. 😉
Oh, cuteness! My seven-year-old son is the one all the girls invite to their birthday parties. He rolls his eyes now, but I tell him he’s going to appreciate it in the future.
Cute story! S’mores would get me to open the door and come running too.
haha. see it works on adults too!
3 boys – yes, I’d say you’re in trouble! It is so cute though to see the kids play together but I know exactly what you mean by needing to check in on things!
it’s all innocent now, but i see the makings of trouble… 🙂
I’ve got two boys. I’m gonna remember the s’mores tactic. You’re a smart mama!
haha. i don’t know how well it will work when they’re older. might have to up the stakes… concert tickets anyone?? .
Ha! I loved this! You are so on top of this situation….I respect that. 😉
ha! just trying to survive is more like it. 😉
I’m just impressed that your boys have any girls over right now. We’re still in the “ew” phase.
well… i was writing about my 5 & 7 year old… and they love girls!! my 10 year old will still play with them as well, but he has become more shy and it’s more circumstantial. but so far, no ews.
Isn’t it hard to walk that line of playing it cool, not overreacting, and figuring out when enough is enough? I still haven’t figured it out. But next time I’ll be thinking of the puppies. (Cute overload!)
I love the way you parent! And I love the way you write about it too! Just be sure that you’ve got lots of cookies in the pantry as those boys get older…
thank you. no kidding!! that trick works now, but i’ll be reassessing my cookies in a few years.. 😉
Is it bad that I remember playing ‘puppies’ as a kid, except we called it doctor and their was definitely some nudity involved. (…thats probably not comforting! sorry!)
not at all! i think everyone played puppies and family… but uh, i don’t know about the naked… i’m hoping that’s just you. hahahaha.
hahahaha! probably so!
🙂