Out of control

I've noticed lately that other people have been correcting my children. I can't decide if I want to be pissed about it or grateful. Let me elaborate...

Friends and strangers seem to be more aware of my children's misbehaving than I am. Just the other day while at the pediatrician's office, the doctor must have corrected my boys 6 or 7 times. "don't touch that. that isn't to play with. that can break. let's not do that..." Frankly, I got ticked. Seriously...we are in a 4x4 room for almost an hour with only 3 books that are 'touchable' and everything else is off limits. are you kidding me? have you met a 3 and a 1 year old boy before? she was lucky they didn't set the place on fire.

A few weeks back while shopping in a local consignment shop, the clerk scolded the boys for playing too rough IN THE KIDS ZONE of the store. She's lucky I didn't punch her in the face. Did she think she was in Saks or something? I politely told her to kiss off and that I would never shop in that dump again.

the nerve.

And again in my own home one of my dearest friends had to get on my 3 year old for throwing, sassing me, and other annoying crap three year olds do. now of all the people in the world, my dearest friends have full permission to unleash on my heathens. so her doing so didn't bother me...it just makes me question my effectiveness as a threat parent.

Are my kids are out of control?

I've come to ignore most of their shenanigans around the house because if I jumped every time I heard a crash or a scream coming from the other room...well, i'd be doing a lot of jumping. This is an ability that i as a parent have worked hard to acquire. why can't everyone else just look the other damn way too? so what if my boys are standing on top of a kiddie table growling like lions or belly surfing on your beloved doctor swivel stool. did they break anything? has anyone been hurt?

yet?

i know. i know. the yet is bound to happen. but how can anyone live in the yet? that word sucks all the fun, adventure, mystery, and chaos out of life as a toddler boy. don't people realize we've exhausted ourselves as parents to scare teach these little monsters the BIG dangers in life? like don't run out into the street or parking lot. don't touch hot shit. and avoid head trauma at all cost (see first rule). come on...if they can make it through childhood without breaking one of these rules then i should get a freaking medal.

Now i am realistic...i realize that their abilities to destroy will increase exponentially with every year lived. especially the 18 month old...he's smarter than he looks. We will be on first name basis with the local firemen, explaining to neighbors why their cat has no hair, and the like.

But my prayer is this...that while these boys are young and discovering their boundaries, Lord, we can be ever so patient (and that hag in the retail store). These boys need freedom to explore the amazing world You've set them in...protect them when it really counts, Lord. Help us to love them well through all the breaks, bumps, blood, boogers and burps. Show us how to grow these little monsters into Jesus-loving men. (and forgive me for calling that hag a hag). Amen.