*Sometimes laughter comes from the most unexpected places. It also may occur at equally unexpected times. Plus, a mess can also occur any time and any place. As a parent, I have learned all that the hard way.
“Why don’t you clean up the mess, since you just made that mess?!”
And commence the steam coming out of my husband’s ears after our youngest told him to clean up the mess in her room. OK, I confess messes in general in our home are totally common as shown here. But still he simply moved around the little figures and toys on the floor. This was his way to illustrate that there was indeed a mess that needed to be cleaned up so our dog wouldn’t eat or destroy their toys.
I literally had to stand there for a minute to catch my breath. I also tried hard not to laugh out loud that our 7 year old smart mouth thought quickly enough to come up with this comeback to try to get out of cleaning the mess that both girls made.
This one is silly and never one to mince her words – ever!
I walked in the other room and totally let the air out to breath. And then couldn’t hold the laughter anymore. See don’t get me wrong, it is the 7 year old that happens to be our resident comedian more often than not. Therefore, I find myself quite often left chuckling out loud by her words and actions.
The Punishment Fits the Mess of a Crime
But back to the situation at hand. By the time I returned to their room, my husband was taking their toys, the Barbie Dreamhouse included and putting them out side on our deck.
He proceeded to tell the girls that until they did clean up the mess, these toys would remain outside. Never mind it has been freezing out and even had snow in the past few weeks.
Mom to the Rescue with the ‘Not So Mess’ Cleanup
Of course, both girls were now distraught. They were even claiming they couldn’t clean up by themselves. Enter Mom (me). I got down on my hands and knees to help them with the task at hand.
As much as I knew they were totally in the wrong for the mess, I still couldn’t help but pitch in. Because that is just what I do, I suppose.
When the cleaning was completed, the lecture from dad followed. This was mostly for the benefit of our smart mouth 7 year old. Why? Because the older isn’t nearly as quick to answer us back.
One Mess Down, How Many To Go & The Future of Smart Mouths
I am guessing that we will hear more of that smart mouth in the months and years to come. And so not out of the woods by far with her only being 7 years old.
And her smart mouth keeps on…
God help us for the teen years. At the very least, they will most likely be bumpy and filled with her clever, but snarky remarks. Because at only 7, she already has the market on telling it like it is (sometimes for good, but sometimes for bad, as illustrated here). Hopeful that some of that snakiness will still be more for good. Plus, I wouldn’t balk at much needed laughter from it. But again am more than aware that it most likely won’t be all laughter, sunshine and lollipops with the teen years!
[clickToTweet tweet=”How has your kids made you laugh recently? You are not going to want to miss how mine made me indeed laugh in recent times! #FTSF” quote=”How has your kids made you laugh recently? You are not going to want to miss how mine made me indeed laugh in recent times! #FTSF” theme=”style1″]
**Coincidentally, this week’s Finish the Sentence Friday was a 5 minute prompt on the word, “Laughter”. Therefore linking up with Kristi and Kenya.
Dara says
I always threaten to get rid of the toys but I haven’t yet! Putting them outside is kind of hilarious.
Janine says
Dara, definitely an ingenious idea on my husband’s part. So he gets all the credit on that for sure! š
William Holland says
Sorry, no young ones around here….unless you count the puppy, and Maggie May doesn’t speak our language. š She does make messes, though, lots of messes!
Happy Friday Janine, and good luck with that 7 year old. š
Janine says
Aw, good luck with this puppy messes and Happy Friday to you right back now, Bill!! š
Meredith Spidel says
Yes!! Laughter is what gets us through parenting!! Here’s to all those fine messes š
Janine says
Agreed 110% And cheers to those fine messes indeed š
Kristi Campbell says
Putting the toys outside – my dad did that to me and my brothers once. Anything that was on the floor in our rooms got put in garbage bags next to the trash pickup. We were a little cleaner for a while! LOL to the sassy 7year old’s comeback!
Janine says
Your dad and my husband would most likely get along famously it sounds like! And I know that 7 year old is sure sassy š
Vickie says
<3 <3 Love it! I have very often had to try not to laugh, you know because I'm the mother and I am not supposed to š
Janine says
I know, same here Vickie!! š
Mary says
Your youngest is sharp, Iām sure you will enjoy that in her teenage years. My Mom and Dad got a kick out of my smart mouth I was never disrespectful I was all just looking for a laugh and I have a feeling your kids will be the same way. You are a great Mom, Iām taking notes, Janine.
Janine says
Aw, thanks Mary and I think both your parents were amazing, too. So, I have no doubt that you will be equally amazing as a mom, as well š
Kenya G. Johnson says
I know you’ve written about being trouble for your parents. I guess payback is beginning two-fold. It’s going to be a wild ride for you and Kevin. I’m scared for you. LOL!
Janine says
Thanks and I going to need it it would seem! LOL š
clark says
( I totally display our household demographic by saying), love the first photo. The paw on their human is such a dog-like thing to do. Totally prepared to defend their human or, if necessary take the blame.
Una has a place for her toy in the living room (wicker laundry basket) and sometimes seems to enjoy just taking them out for display purposes. lol
Janine says
Aw, Clark I totally agree and Our Elsa is definitely very protective of my youngest in the pic and all of us here, as well. Plus, sounds to me like Una and Elsa would get along famously as far as toys go š
Audrey Johnson says
It is ironic that I read this today. Last night my husband and I were watching “Live PD”. Great show if you want to laugh at the audacity of people in our world. There are so many people young and old with so many issues on this program. (Our children are grown now but we raised 5 so you can imagine the messes we dealt with. ) My husband looks at me (he was the complainer about messes) and says, “Wow, I guess we were lucky, the only problems we had with our kids growing up was their messy rooms.” We agreed that messy rooms were by far a non-issue compared with the rest of the things parents deal with in life. So, enjoy those messes. If that is all they do…you’re going to be proud.
Janine says
Thanks Audrey and I truly hope you right!! š
Echo says
Hahahaha, that was quite the quip! I love how quick witted she is! We are definitely worried about the teen years over hear too!
Janine says
Echo, the teen years definitely got me a bit nervous, as well now!
Seana Turner says
I remember one time my husband was upset with the girls and swooped in and declared, “No TV for a month.” I just stared at him, thinking, “What in the world are you talking about? You are rarely here.. that is a punishment for me as much as it is for them. And a month is ridiculous for the size of this offense!” Sometimes, you’ve just gotta laugh to get out of the craziness of the moment!
Janine says
I agree totally and that was my thought about the toys as more punishment for me when mine isn’t around either!
AnnMarie John says
Madison has a really smart mouth, smart to the point where it sometimes seem as though she’s being rude, but she always makes us laugh. Being the youngest, we can’t help it sometimes.
Janine says
Very similar with Lily here and think she and Madison would get along perfectly! š
Tamara says
haha, your husband sounds like Cassidy. But the deck might be too nice for Cassidy. He’d put it in the yard.
The snark these kids already have.. I can’t imagine the teenage years!
Janine says
Love that Cassidy and Kevin would do similar as our husbands may just be twins, too! š
Pat B says
Although I would have preferred that the kids had orderly rooms, I learned that I could live with them picking up any of their toys in the living room before bedtime each day and picking up their toys in their rooms on Saturday, so I could vacuum, mop, etc. Perhaps that was a little lax according to some parents’ standards, but it worked best for our family at the time. I could always just close their bedroom doors and not have to see the mess.
It didn’t always go completely smoothly. We definitely had times when toys were bagged up and removed for a while to make a point.
Janine says
Pat, thanks for sharing and I suppose that things don’t always go smoothly here either. But just thankful for all the great moments we still have, too š
Nellie says
These kids always have something to say. I asked my eldest to clean up HIS big mess of toys and he said I was treating him like a “servant” WHAT? You better believe he heard an entire earful from me!! I don’t know what we are going to do as they get older!!
Janine says
I am so not sure either! But sounds like yours is very similar to mine with the mouth if nothing else!
Dana says
There have certainly been times when I’ve bitten my lip to keep from laughing at something my kids have said…when I’m supposed to be angry with them! Sounds like you are in for a fun ride as your girls get older, Janine!
Janine says
Glad it isn’t just me, Dana and yes I do believe I am in for the ride of my life!
Catherine Gacad says
janine, this reminds me of another post where you talked about one of your daughters and she asked if you were going to apologize for upsetting her. i still giggle about how sassy they are!
Janine says
Aw, Catherine that is just totally my daughters and honestly couldn’t make this stuff up if I tried š