Teeth and Teasing

I knew it wouldn't be long because I could see a bump on his gums - but wowie-wow-wow! (Can you tell we read Junie B. books?) Another tooth today! It is the other bottom one. Justin is a little grumpy today like he was on Friday but taking it well, with Tylenol that is. I bought teething tablets that friends said have worked for their kids. I gave them to him on Friday and they really did seem to help him. I just gave him some now, so we will see if it was just a fluke!

Brian Jr. could not get any closer to losing his first top tooth - the two middle bottom are already out and the adult teeth are coming back in. Of course, he won't let us get anywhere near it! It sticks out at a funny angle and he has to bite all his foods on the sides of his mouth. Oooh, if we could just get one good yank on it! We are having fun teasing the boys about Justin biting them! Hey - if you can't "torture" the kids sometimes - what fun is it to have them!

Speaking of having fun with the kids, I am reminded of the time when Brian was about three years old and he wanted to run away from home. He didn't want to go far - his best friend lived across the street and he wanted to move in with them. I guess if the grass is greener on the other side of the fence that it holds true for the other side of the street too!

So, we tell him that he can go but he can't take any toys with him, since they belong to this house. He was okay with that - his friend had plenty of toys. Then we tell him he has to think of a new name because we gave him his name and he cannot take that either. Fine with him, he will just be named Buzz Lightyear. Every three year olds dream! He is dead serious about this and Brian and I are trying so hard to keep from laughing.

We try to tell him a few more things, like there might be earlier bed times or more veggies and he is not buying any of it and definitely beating us at our own game. We cannot get him to back down for anything! Now my feelings are starting to get hurt - he wants to go live with another family so badly that he will leave all traces of his former life behind! Okay, I know a little dramatic but all Moms want their kids to like them best! Right?

Then a little light bulb goes off. I tell him that he cannot take his clothes with him either. He says that his friend has clothes that he can wear. I tell him that he cannot take the clothes that he is wearing either. He just stares at me in disbelief and then proceeds to strip down naked. And he again starts for the door. We decide to see how far he will really take this - and are also out of ideas.

As he goes, in a drastic last effort, we tell him that there is no coming back, you won't have this Mommy and Daddy anymore, and we will cry because we will miss you so much. But nothing phases him. All he sees is a play date everyday for the rest of his life with his best friend! He opens the front door and walks out onto the drive way. Keep in mind it is the middle of winter with freezing temperatures and he is totally naked! We watch him and expect him to turn around at any second. But he doesn't, and so Brian has to go out and get him before the neighbors call the police on us!

He cried when we brought him back inside and got him dressed - he really thought we were going to let him go and live across the street. He was so determined to make it happen! We still get a good laugh every time we tell this story. And the best part is now we can embarrass him with the story - he was the winner in round one - but we now have an embarrassing naked story to tell for many years to come! I think his first girlfriend will love it!