Slices of Life, Vol. 15

Since asking the boys not to do something isn't usually "enough" to correct their actions, I sometimes check for understanding before moving on to another task. I check more often with Nicholas than with Nathaniel, since Nick is at an age that seems to perpetually test any given limits.The other night, Nathaniel ran into the kitchen with his light saber, which is generally considered against the rules. Before I could even open my mouth:

Nicholas: "Thaniel, DO NOT run into the kitchen with your life saver! DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME? DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME?"


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We were watching "Kim Possible" on the Disney Channel recently when I saw two boys I didn't recognize talking to Kim:

Me: "Nathaniel, who are those kids? Are they Kim Possible's brothers?"

Nathaniel: "Yep, they're matches." [twins]

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While playing in the den recently:

Grayson: "Nathaniel, please take this cup to your brother."

Nicholas: "I am NOT the bruddah. HE is the bruddah. I AM NICK-A-LISS."










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In the bathtub, the boys like to play with squirt bottles. Last night they were squirting each other madly, with the occasional cry because of being nailed in the eye.

Nathaniel: "Nick-a-liss, I'm gonna kill you."

Me: "NATHANIEL! We do NOT, under any circumstances, ever say we're going to kill our friends or family. I understand that you're just playing, but that's a hurtful thing to say. It's ugly, and I do not ever want to hear you say that again."

Nathaniel: [dejectedly] "Okay."

[a minute later]

Me: "You know what? This summer we can take our squirt bottles to the beach and play with them in the pool. Won't THAT be fun?"

Nathaniel: "Oooh, YES! Nick-a-liss, won't that be great? We can play SHOOTING!" [looks sideways at me] ".... I mean, WATER BOTTLE PLAY."

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