like a fire

While I am still looking for a job, Cathy is working at Walgreens. So far she has been in training, which is a ten day full time process. During this time, I have learned a lot about fatherhood and seen many things. So I decided to start a series on those experiences for the benefit of all who should read. All of these are based on actual events with no embellishment.

Today, we went to the Galleria Mall in Hoover, AL. Jane is not very impressed with the mall. Unlike the Florida Mall that has the M&M store, the surfing store, the Playmobile Store and a play ground to play on, the Galleria Mall has little to offer the casual shopper that Jane is. After being at the Galleria for just 30 minutes, Jane is ready to go. Not even the promise of food treats will appease her. This is really fine because we got a late start (getting Jane and Elizabeth out the door is quite the challenge). Actually we were a bit late to leave because I needed to stop by the store on the way home and replenish the bottomless need in the Martin house for juice and bread.

The bottom line here is that I seriously miscalculated the time.

By the time we left the Publix, both girls were in a state of low blood sugar and were quite grumpy. For Jane, that means repeatedly asking the same questions. For Elizabeth, that means yelling a lot.

So I rush them home, get a pizza in the oven and start trying to get them ready for lunch and then nap time. While do said preparations, Jane walks into the kitchen with a bouncy ball in her mouth. This is the kind that is clear and has a seascape inside it. Our conversation goes something like this:

Me: “Well, sweetie, are you hungry?”

Jane: “Yes”

Me: “Well, don’t eat the ball, it will ruin your lunch.”

Jane: “I’m not eating it. I’m just chewing it, Dad.”

Me: “!?!?!?!” (trying not to laugh)

I guess I should be glad we had already cleaned up the other small chewable things in the house, like books. Here’s to human chew toys.