It's Part of Our DNA

This past weekend, I had to reinforce a skill.  Teach a principle.  Solidify a point. Mold my young breed.

With young boys between the ages of 7 and 13, there is a certain hinge, or set of hinges, in the house that doesn't get as much use as it should.

I don't know that I can claim credit for the lyrics, because I have a sneaking suspicion they were lying dormant in my mind from my childhood when sung to me by my mom.  After all, she had 8 young boys between the ages of 3 and 18 at one point.  She certainly is the one who taught me the skill of making up different words to familiar tunes.

I taught it to Nick several years ago, and it seems to have worked (within a reasonable variance rate) for him.

So, if you are familiar with the LDS Primary songbook, please sing along with me the Avery Boy Anthem (as I titled it for my sons this weekend):

To stand while you pee is a blessing, you see,
But lift up the seat when you pee.
If you leave the seat down, you will make Mommy frown,
So lift up the seat to pee.
Nobody likes to sit on a wet seat.
It's up to you to keep it clean and neat.
So, lift up the seat! Lift up the seat! Lift up the seat when you pee!

I am sure their having that song stuck in their head all day yesterday had nothing to do with the fact that the song has the word "pee" in it 4 times.  Or that I sang it to them several times for their bedtime song on Saturday night.

It might just work.  You are welcome to try.

Seems Like Maybe It's Time

I make no apologies about it.

I can read my kids' texts. They show up on my iPad.  I even insert myself into their text conversations sometimes.

Again - no apologies.

And if you aren't doing it, then you don't love your children.

But...I think it's about time for me to consider letting my 17-year-old daughter out of the observation chamber.

I popped in to see what was going on and my eyes began burning.  I screamed in pain and agony as my brain was seared.  No, it wasn't because of any improper pictures or language, which is why I ever monitor the texts in the first place.

For the most part, she has embraced my counsel on those matters as they have come up.  For that, I am grateful.

But reading in (spying on, if you will) a group text with a couple of her friends, I realized there are things that I do NOT need to be reading about. Ever.

EH...VER.

Not about her.  And certainly not about her friends. I don't think I need to spell it out for you. So I won't.

But don't go thinking my boys will get off so easily. [Evil, Maniacal Laughter]