{Enter the Good Housekeeping Cookie Lover’s Cookbook Giveaway!}
I could hear her feet as they hit the ground.
Their bareness slapped the tile floor as they stomped toward my room.
She stopped in the doorway.
She was too angry to entirely enter a space that was completely ours.
“I hate her! And all the stupid noises she makes! She’s just sitting there grunting and slopping up her food. In her stupid annoying way.”
“Excuse me. You had better watch how you speak about other members of the family.” I spoke in a tone that elicited a stern warning. Go down this road little girl, and there is no turning back. It’ll take off like a tornado. My yelling. Your yelling. It’ll spin, and spin, until every perfect moment we had today will be destroyed.
“I DON’T CARE. You. You and Daddy. You guys just sit back here in your room chit chatting and eating your dinner, WHILE I HAVE TO EAT AT THE TABLE SITTING NEXT TO HER!!!!!! You are never around her, not like I am. And you NEVER have to deal with her grossness and stupidity like I have to. IT’S NOT FAIR. I HATE HER.”
I sat on the bed nauseous.
And my head hurt.
My shoulders were slumped and I felt defeated.
I looked up at Warwick.
He sat their in the big leather recliner nibbling on a salad.
He stared at me with one eyebrow raised. Then he looked at her, before returning to his salad.
I shifted on the bed.
I pulled my shoulders back.
I looked that kid straight in the eye and said,
“First. I SPEND EVERY SECOND OF EVERY FREAKIN’ DAY WITH YOU AND YOUR SISTERS.
Your father and I go to EVERY school event, EVERY sport practice and game. We wipe your butts, your snot and your tears. WE are there FOR IT ALL. EVERY SECOND. So don’t go there, sister.
Second. YOUR 6 YEAR OLD SISTER IS NOT ANYMORE ANNOYING THAN YOU ARE. AND YOU WILL NOT SPEAK ABOUT HER THAT WAY BECAUSE NOBODY SPEAKS ABOUT YOU THAT WAY.
Third. We will be kind to one another.
We will love another.
You will do it, because Jesus did.
For Christs sake, he was nailed to a cross and still had nothing negative to say!!!
And he was human
AND GUESS WHAT? SO. ARE. YOU.
Suck it up. And turn around.
I’m not playing. I’m pissed.
You better just finish your dinner.”
I turned my head away.
Lowered my eyes, and resumed my slumped defeated position on the bed.
All the air was out of me. I had nothing left to give.
I heard her, turn around and walk back to the dinner table.
Nary a word to be heard.
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
That was amazing.
Because that never happens.
Usually its like. . .
Yell, yell, yell. Yell some more. Cry. Cry. Cry. Yell. Until we all just pass out from sheer exhaustion.
I think she could tell I was way tired.
Too tired to play that game.
Plus, I think when she tried to play the YOUR NEVER AROUND CARD, it was pretty laughable.
Ha!Ha! Ha! I’m always around.
I’m around so much I see those jokers scratch their butts ten times a day.
But where I think I really won this debate, was when a little darkness fell out of my mouth.
With the use of the word FREAKIN’ and PISSED.
Not usually in my lingo.
Certainly not when I talk to my children.
But in this moment I think it showed that I’m a bit tough.
A bit rough.
Bordering. . . .cool.
And probably pretty pissed.
Yes, I think it did the trick.
My dear children.
Mommy has a dark side.
Though it’s still sweet, and a bit crunchy.
And if you rub me the wrong way, I’ll salt up your wounds and gouge them with protein nuts.
But don’t worry, I’ll add raisins, soft and plump to ease the pain.
But not before throwing in coconut. UNSWEETENED. Because I’m coco- nuts.
Oh.
And then. Just to drive you mad, I”ll add peanuts. Honey Roasted.
And you’ll be all, WHOA! What is going on???
Protein. Salt. Sweet. Honey. Sunshine. Toughness. Darkness.
This woman is AMAZING.
I WANT TO BE JUST LIKE HER WHEN I GROW UP.
And I’ll be like, if your lucky.
Eat your durn Trail Mix.
DARK CHOCOLATE M&M TRAIL MIX
INGREDIENTS:
- 2 PARTS HONEY ROASTED PEANUTS
- 2 PARTS ROASTED AND SALTED ALMONDS
- 1 PART RAISINS
- 1 PART DARK CHOCOLATE M&M’S
- 1 PART PEPITAS (roasted and salted pumpkin seeds/ shells removed)
- 1/2 PART FLAKED UN-SWEETENED COCONUT, optional
