The last few days around here have been a bit muddy. It all started on Tuesday with one child slinging a handful of mud at the other, and then the retaliation phase began.
Once there were done slinging goop at each other, I got the hose and sprayed them off a bit before they went inside to take showers and put on their jammies.
Then, yesterday we got home from the gym and Mister and Sister asked if they could play outside. As they headed out the door, and I headed down the hall to put Little Miss down for her nap, I told them to stay out of the mud.
Apparently, they didn’t hear me.
Oh my word! They SKATED in the mud on the bathroom floor. If you’d have seen my all mostly white bathroom, you’d have cried with me! As I looked at them, and those little smiles, I kept saying over and over in my head “Get mad or get pictures. You only get them 18 summers.” After I showered them off, they had to spend time in their rooms reading (i.e. time-out –since I DID say stay out of the mud) while I cleaned the bathroom. After their time out, Mister cleaned the footprints that led from the back door through the dining room, living room, and down the hallway to the bathroom.
As he started wiping up the footprints, he said, “We’re sorry, Mom. Do you have to tell Dad? Wait. You took pictures. Do you have to show him? I know, you tell Dad everything. But can you make sure he’s at least had a good day at work first?” I had to chuckle, because first- he realizes I tell Dad everything, and second- he wanted to make sure Dad was in a good mood before I told him about the mess. Smart kid.
Anyway, a friend shared with me a cute little poem, that I wanted to share with you. Perfectly fitting for the day!
“Getting Dirty” by Dorthi Charles
Let’s go rolling rolling
fast as round rocks roll.
Down the hillside hollering
when we hit a hole.
Make-believe we’re rabbits
in a garden patch.
Quick lips clipping lettuce leaves
fast feet dogs can’t catch.
Let’s play knight in armor
bashing swords in battle.
Shake a stone inside a can
make a thunder rattle.
Let’s play I’m a tiger.
You say, “Help! I’m bit!”
Let’s not play that anymore
Tag! You’re it!
Here’s a peaceful puddle.
Just the thing to Smash!
What a mess of mushy mud.
In and out we splash.
How will Mother wash us off?
Only Mother knows.
Line us up against the house
and slosh us with the hose.
I couldn’t help but think the muddy mess was my fault. After all, I laughed and egged them on while they threw the goo. Then I had a splashing good time with them as I hosed them off after their mud slinging fun. I should have been more clear that muddy messes like that stay outdoors. I should have made sure I got a response from them when I said “stay out of the mud.”
Now that the mess is cleaned, I have to laugh. After all, it is just dirt. They had fun and no one got hurt. I do think, though, that I am going to invest in a cheap plastic pool and bubble bath for the back patio and tell them they have to wash up BEFORE they come in from playing!
Oh man, what a mess! We live on a dirt road, so my two get messy, but never THAT messy lol.
You gave them one of the best childhood memories they’ll have. You’re an awesome mom!
Lol aww all that mess i would of cried.Mine love to make the place and along with the 2 dogs,But i always say mess can be cleaned up where as fun memories stay forever.
Oh!! Ha! Just hose them off before they come in next time. I chased my sons around the back yard with a hose. It was a lot of fun!!
Thanks, Liz!
Next time they get the hose, for sure, Beth!
Good for you for not getting mad. Those photos are going to be so fun for them to look back on when they get older. Priceless!
Oh my goodness. What is it with kids and puddles and mud? My girls grab the hose and make mud!
I think it’s great you let kids be kids!
oh my, its what I use to do to my mom, come in all muddy 🙂 hit the shower she say LOLL thanks for share 😉
“Get mad or get pictures!” now THAT’S a slogan I can get behind. 🙂
I think it’s cool that you let them play in the mud the first time, and that it was so fun they wanted to go back. 😉
These pics are priceless! And really, it’s just dirt! They’ll remember this forever!
You are so gracious — I’d have lost my mind. But it’s a sweet memory for them I’ms ure!
Kids love mud! It’s like magnetic to them, I think. That’s too funny!!
Awesome! That looks like so much fun!
OMGosh I love the pictures! And yes, it IS just dirt and dirt is fun. They had a blast and the pictures are awesome… they’ll love looking at them in 20 years 🙂
Look at that mess— but I bet your kids had SOOO much fun!
Oh dear!!! I would faint if that mud trailed through my beige carpet. Eek!
I just snorted coffee through my nose. To be young again! To be honest, I want to slosh around with them. So much fun!
Robin- just you wait…
Theresa- I couldn’t get mad with their smiles, now could I?
Kay- I did cry for a second, but then I pulled it together. I’m just glad I hadn’t just cleaned. LOL
Rosey- I’ve tried to have that mind set since Mister was a baby and dumped an entire canister of corn meal all over the carpet. LOL
Danielle- they’ll either love them or be mortified. LOL
Jessica I bet that burned! LOL
Marina- my sister in law immediately messaged me and said, “Aren’t you glad you don’t have carpet anymore?” I would have cried like a baby if they did that three years ago!
Awww their little mud covered faces are adorable though! HUge mess haha
Oh my that is one big mess! I would have probably lost it, but they are having so much fun!
LOL! Yes, I to have to remind myself they are only little for a while pretty often! I am mean and make mine help clean the mess though! LOL!
OMG – I would have gone crazy if they tracked through the house! My mom was awesome about letting us get covered in mud. I’m just not there yet… 🙂
They look like they had a great time. There’s nothing like playing in the mud.
Hahahaha! It looks like they had a ton of fun! What a fun mess!
Oh my goodness! Love the poem and what a fun memory!
Oh man! This is one of those moment that you just gotta smile and be happy that they are happy. I hope they helped you clean it up…
Oh those pics are awesome. Reminds me of younger days… I even got my sister to eat a mud pie… got in trouble for that. Shoot… not my fault she was so gullible!
WOW! Now that’s a fun activity! 😉 I used to love to make mud pies!
OMG I would love love love this. It is pretty awesome that you let them play in the mud. You are my kinda mom.
Haha, kids will be kids. I have an “uh-oh” photo like that when my crawling baby got into the snack cupboard and poured cereal, pretzels, chips, and several varieties of crackers all over the kitchen floor. She looked so adorable sitting there happily munching that I just had to laugh and take a picture.