Jamie is an extremely organized individual. She makes lists for just about anything we do. Going to the store? List. Going on a trip? That’s a list. Kid’s birthday party coming up? You betcha there’s going to be a list involved. So when the time came to start getting things ready for her stay over in Tampa, there were lists everywhere. Not surprising, there was one for me too and prior to leaving, I was handed a notebook.
No, the entire notebook wasn’t full of lists…. only the first three pages. Still it must have been awesome to see my face when she handed it to me.
Most of the list items dealt with Christmas and other minor odds and ends. However, item 12 on page 3 was one she STRESSED could not be overlooked. It reads:
Clip Josh/ Jake’s finger & toe nails at least once a week.
So every week I set some time aside to clip their nails. I mean, I literally put a weekly alert on my calendar to remind me to do this.
With the exception that I had totally neglected their toes and Jake had some gnarly toenails when we visited Jamie a few weeks ago, I had done what I felt was a fair job staying on top of their finger nails. Still, the toe nail incident had kind of placed me on notice. I certainly didn’t want her thinking I wasn’t taking proper care of our kids.
Then it happened.
I’m over at my mom’s house having dinner and Joshua goes into one of his notorious fits of rage during which time he manages to put a nice gouge across his right cheek and draw blood. I had trimmed his nails the evening before and had no idea how he managed to do it, yet there it was.
My mom had the typical parental response: “Oh no, he hurt himself. Poor little guy.” Me? I think my first thought was “Jamie is going to KILL me” and my first words were “why did YOU let him do that?” Is this kid trying to get me in trouble? Fortunately, after the initial shock passed, I realized the scratch would probably be gone by the time Jamie saw him again. I was probably in the clear.
No such luck.
The very next day I receive a text message from Jamie saying she wants to do a video call on Skype. Bear in mind that we haven’t “skyped” since she was in the hospital.
I am so dead.
So that evening I call her on Skype and we chat for a while. Jake gets his turn as well and eventually Jamie asks to see Joshua. I bring him over to the camera and sit him in my lap. Maybe the scratch wouldn’t be noticeable through the webcam? The picture quality from my en couldn’t be that good, could it?
I’m sure you’ve heard the saying “you get what you pay for?” Well, apparently I paid too much.
The first thing Jamie says: “Ouch! He scratched himself good.” I immediately respond with “I swear I just cut his nails two days ago and have no idea how he managed to do that!”
In what felt like an eternity, she paused, gave me that strange head cocked to one side – squinty eye look she does when she doesn’t quite believe something, and just said “ok”.
She knows I’m trying my best. I love you, Jamie!
Related posts:
That’s funny. I know you’ll trying and that’s kids. Glad to hear you’ve actually used my notebook and put up an alert. Otherwise, Jake will get those narly toes!
we are sisters in the list department. i need lists of my lists.
Just had an alert pop up on my calendar. Time for their weekly trim.
LOL!