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May 11, 2007

I recieved this inspiring forward from a good friend, and though I usually don't do this, I decided to share it with you. It actually made me wipe a tear or two, because of the wonderful story, and the tribute to mother's everywhere. Enjoy!



Mother's Day and Chapstick


*When my children were very small, we were fortunate to have a wonderful old cat named Jack. He was very tolerant of my three children, and though they carried him, pulled his tail, and aggravated him beyond belief, he never complained. He loved to sleep in our bathroom, on an old mat.



My children were 4, 3, and 1 at the time. This story concerns the middle child, **Eli. For some reason he developed a fascination with chapstick. He was always asking to use mine, but then he would lose it. I asked if was eating it, and he said, "Mama, you don't eat chaptik." Frankly I got tired of buying so much chapstick, so I showed him where I kept mine, and told him he could use it anytime, but to please put it back when he was done. What a relief when I didn't have to buy chapstick every other day!! He followed my instructions to the letter. I was so proud of my brilliant little boy.



Last year on Mother's Day, we were having the typical rush around and trying to get ready for church. The kids were carrying on, as usual. While I was putting on my makeup, in an equal rush, I was disappointed, don't ask me why, that everyone wouldn't behave and remember that this was Mother's Day, my day, the day they should all honor my hard work and dedication to the family. The day set aside to honor mothers. This was my day!



We finally got the older child in the car, and my husband had the baby, so the only one missing was my three year old. I ran in the house to look for him, searching everywhere, and I finally found him in the bathroom, where Jack the cat was lying peacefully on his beloved mat. Wordlessly, I watched as Eli lifted Jack's tail, and with great accuracy, and care, applied chapstick, to the little round circle under his tail. You know the one. His rear end!!



Eli, very calmly, looked right into my eyes and said "chapped." If you have a cat, you know that he is pretty much right -- their bottoms do look chapped in a way. (Though it is not my habit to check this on every cat I see.) Jack didn't seem to mind. In fact, he seemed to be used to it.



The only thing I could think at the time is whether this was the first time Eli had treated Jack's 'chapped' nether regions or the hundredth!!



I guess that is the one of most memorable Mother Day I can recall, because no matter how hard we try to civilize these glorious little creatures we call children, there will always be that day when you discover they've been using your chapstick on the cat's ass.





*author unknown, but totally sympathized with. If you have read this before, my most humble apologies. Oh, hell, I don't care...read it again, dammit!!


**I don't know the kids real name. I guess it was changed because he's probably grown up now and threatened legal action if anyone ever repeats this story.

6 comments:

Bardouble29 said...

om my goodness, I bet that poor mother laughed till she cried.

I love the innocence of children.

Thanks for sharing that story.

Happy Mothers day to you, hold your boy tight this weekend.

dawn said...

I read this this morning and laughed my ass off. When my oldest was 10 my husband took the kids to the park across the street from my house on mothers day. A couple of hours later my son knocked on the door bleeding from his mouth, where here had broken his front teeth rollerblading where he shouldn't have been while his dad was playing basketball. I then asked wheres your dad and he said he stayed in the park because he was to scared to come home. My first born breaking his teeth was a mothers day I will never forget but not as bad as chap stick. Have a great moms day and weekend

Anonymous said...

That was funny! Happy Mother's Day.

Unknown said...

My favorite Mothers Day memories are when my sons made their own cards, which expressed such deep love and devotion, it frighted me, as it seemed to be written by another personality. "i love you mother. you are the greatest mom in the world. you are a good mom. i love you more than you will ever know. you're a really good mom. you make good spaghetti."

Shrink Wrapped Scream said...

"..wasn't there, despite current belief.." (Hahooheheh!!)

Sorry, I know it's a serious post, but hell, you cracked the joke in there..

I don't know what I personally believe, and I certainly feel wholly unqualified to enlighten anyone as to what they should or should not believe, be it for or against. But I do fully applaude your arguments here. Strong beliefs on either front, are a personal, individual right. It is not a personal, individual right to foist these views upon any other hapless soul you might encounter. As ever, good on you, Chuck, for nailing it in one.

No said...

Great story. Happy Mother's Day, everyone!!!