They Played Me Like a Fiddle

Often I have heard the wishings from moms with toddlers that their children are just so young, needy and, well, always right on top of a mother's every move. I, too, occasionally felt the walls pressing in around me when I had 2/5 year olds or 3/6 year olds. But this year things seemed to get easier in many ways. Isaac can really help clean the house now and Aaron can be kept busy "helping" long enough not to bother his brother. This is one of the great joys of older children. Now there is a down side. With age and maturity comes the ability to plot against their mother.

Yesterday, I stood at the kitchen counter preparing grated cheese for our lunch of Hebrew National Hot Dogs ( Yes, we love them). My sweet, kind Isaac came into the kitchen, looked at me with a slight frown on his face and stated he needed to talk with me in his room. Now, I have been known to be less than accomodating in matters like this, but I suddenly thought that being 8, he might need a little privacy. After all, living with Aaron isn't always easy. I followed Isaac to his room passing Aaron as we went. Aaron announced to me that he would stay out in the living room while we talked. I was now becoming seriously impressed. Aaron is the boy who never wants to be alone. He follows me everywhere. When he isn't with me then you can bet that he will be hooked to Nathan's side or pestering Isaac.

Here I was thinking that Aaron was showing some mighty consideration for Isaac's feelings. I was also sure that Isaac had reached a new level of maturity. I was now envisioning a tender moment of mother/son time where I could impart advice to my growing boy.

Isaac sat down on his bed and looked at me - brown eyes wide with emotion - and said...."Mom, do you know that I hurt my toe this morning." My first thought was...Is he serious. He wants to delve into the reasons for a hurt toe. And then it all clicked.

Cheese, yes Cheese. Both boys had asked for some moments before this "hurt toe" conversation. I had said no to them and told them to wait. I turned and went back to the kitchen fully expecting to find Aaron yellow handed. What I found was an almost empty cheese plate.

I yelled for Aaron and began searching. I knew he was close by because all the cheese wasn't gone yet. So, I followed the cheese trail to Aaron's room and there he sat at the back of his bunkbed with two large handfuls of cheese and (if you don't mind the pun) a very cheesy grin.

He gave the cheese back of course and we did get to eat it on the hotdogs. But as we ate, I was struck with the knowledge that my two sons, the children I helped to bring into this world, that I provide for, that I love had played me and had played me well!

It is interesting to note that right this very minute I heard crackling of plastic coming from the kitchen. Aaron is getting himself some more cheese.