Right now, I am in total and absolute awe.
In awe of the extent of chaos and destruction a determined 15 month old can wreck on 250 sq ft of space in 5 minutes.
The destructo-baby’s asleep now and I must now grapple with the question pondered daily and hourly by every mother of a toddler: do I bother picking up the house to briefly enjoy the illusion of order for the x minutes left in his nap, or do I spend this time doing something that he won’t undo within 5 minutes of waking?
Austen: Mom, remember how there were 17 kids at Flora’s birthday party? Well, there are only going to be 7 here today–and I have to warn you. It won’t be like Flora’s. … we’re all going to be hyper and it’ll probably feel like there are more than 17 kids here. Because we are going to form an army and take over the co-op.
Neighbours, take cover. Austen’s birthday party starts in five minutes.
Cinder: Mom, can K and I have some sugar? Don’t worry, we don’t want to eat it — we just want to make gunpowder.
Nothing By The Book 