Since having children I have found there are things I am thankful for that I always took for granted or never quite appericated, like showers. There are things I never would have though as things to be thankful for, they were always so basic, like pencils that stay where I left them. And then there are the things I am thankful for simple because they keep my children entertained. That being said, here is a list of all the things I can think of that right now that I am thankful for that I have taken advantage of or not used properly in my life pre-children.
1. Paper cups. No, I do not mean drinking out of them. David loves to stack them, unstack them, and restack them. This has kept him entertained for over 15 minutes at a time. He gets so excited if I have a stack of one color with only a few of a different color thrown in. It’s like finding gum in your lollipop. Amazing. As for the 15 minutes of distraction, even more than amazing.
2.� Tape. Silly me, I thought it was for such mundane things as holding paper together or torturing cats. Nope, it can also be used to tape your brother’s mouth shut, turn your whole body into a robot, or collect fingerprints. All those uses, and I was simply taping paper. And another reason to be thankful for tape is that it comes in a two pack at the Dollar Tree.
3. Live birds in WalMart. When I worked there they were irritating. Now they are the ultimate distraction. Kid wants a toy, candy, or huge flyswatter?? No problem, simply point out the bird perched above their heads and they forget to throw a fit. Or maybe this only works with kids who have ADHD. Either way, I am covered. I now love those birds and would smuggle them in if they were not there.
4. Pennies. I used to only use the pile of change stacked up on Andy’s dresser for vending machines, mostly at the ER, or milk and Pepsi between paydays. And I always left the pennies. No more, I tell you. Now I can dump the pennies on the floor and tell Isaac there is money hidden somewhere in his room and he can have it all if his room is clean. He cleans up and I do not even have to yell once. At him. Has never worked for the girls though.
5. Chocolate chips for cookies. I hesitate to include this item on a list of things I have only been thankful for in the last decade, but it has new meanings for me, so I chose to include it. We use chocolate chips for a number of things that have nothing to to with baking. We use them for math to add, subtract, multiply, divide, show fractions, etc. And then that kid gets to eat them. Score one for less tears at math. And I also give them to David one at a time to keep him quiet. This only works in small intervals, because he never stops talking, but I take what I can get.
6. The number 3. It is magic. All I have to do is start counting and by 3 they do whatever I was asking them to do. Has never worked for the numbers 1 or 2. Three really is the magic number. Yet another thing I should have learned from Schoolhouse Rock.
7. Scarves. I currently have at least three I am using daily. One ties the fridge shut, one for the pantry, and one for the cupboard under the sink. I used to use rubber bands, but little fingers have actually learned to pick them off already. Soon he will master the complexities of the knot, but for now my food and feminine products are safe.
8. Coffe cans. Silly me I thought they were for holding coffe or playing kick the can. Nope. They current hold legos, flowers, seashells, and live worms- not in the same can. And that is just in my dining room. One from Sam’s is the perfect size for David to wear on his head.
9. The words “Do Not…”. They have a mystical power that forces the child hearing them to try it at least once. I used to think this meant I should never say them. As in: “Do not hit your sister.” “What, you mean like this?!” Now I just follow those powerful words with things I secretly want them to do. For example, yesterday before church the kids were piddling around instead of finishing breakfast. I simply said: “Do not finish eating, we are out of time.” They inhaled all the food, slammed back their drinks, and were done. HA!
10. Clean undies. As a child my mother always told me to wear clean undies everyday. I do the same for my children. Despite enjoying having clean undies myself, I know know they serve a greater purpose than hygiene. If they each have six pairs of undies, and change them everyday, I know how long I can go without washing clothes just by taking a quick peek in any kid’s underwear drawer.
