Surrounded by Lies

It is finally cool here in Pittsburgh. Instead of 94, it's only around 70 degrees. It feels great to be outside again watching my kids comfortably play instead of turning bright red and sweaty after only 5 minutes outside.

Of course, today is the day that they want to play with water guns. They want them filled right at 5:30pm while I am in the middle of preparing dinner. As any mom could guess, I say no - it's too cold and I am too busy. Next thing I know the hose is on and my two year old is in the middle of the flowing water trying to fill her water gun. I clearly tell her not to turn on the hose again or she will have to come inside and go in her crib. Within one minute, she is standing in the flowing water again with a water gun in her hand. My five year old, no surprise here, is happily pointing out her indiscretion.

I stop what I'm doing and very angrily plop the two year old in her crib where she is screaming over her punishment. My five year old scampers across the street to play with a friend. I finish dinner and think nothing more of it. After all, my two year old's disobedience is a constant throughout the day.

At dinner, the two year starts to chatter about the five year old turning on the hose and the five year old starts to look guilty. Since I was way too close to this situation, I let my husband handle the five year old's disobedience and lies while I cleaned the kitchen feeling so bad that I had punished the two year old for nothing. She gets in trouble enough on her own. After a long talk with dad and no brownie for dessert, the five year old appears and apologizes to both me and his sister. His sister smiles widely at him, says "I sorry too" and gives him a big hug. Amazing the things a two year old can teach you when you are paying attention - things like how to forgive completely when wronged and love again.