**I made reference to this in my last post and Steph has asked me to elaborate somewhat. I am happy to. It is these particular moments that I find extreme pleasure in parenting and realize I am just a kid at heart.**
I'm not sure who came up with the idea this particular day, but when I heard the giggling coming from outside, I looked out my office window to find my son and stepson with a very large teddy bear tied to a skateboard with a gazillion feet of fishing line. Now I have witnessed this game before. One night when we were sitting around the fire pit at some friends house all of our kids (7 of them) had decided it would be a good idea to tie a rope around a stuffed bunny rabbit and when a car came down the road someone would pull the rope while another chased after the rabbit. Even the policeman that drove by had to roll down the window and laugh at the kids just having a little bit of fun. (Oh yeah, did I forget to mention I let my kids - all teenagers by the way, play in the street?)
Irresponsible parenting you say? Perhaps. And I won't be offended if you don't send me a 'Mother of the Year' plaque. But I am OK with kids being kids and having a little bit of fun as long as no one is out 'tagging' buildings, vandalizing schools or shooting out car windows with BB guns. So let the kids have a little bit of fun I say and it gives me a good laugh too. I'm selfish that way.
Anyway, on this particular day I had an inkling of what the boyz were up to and so I did what any responsible parent would do. Went back to my cleaning. It was a few minutes later that I heard the sound of a diesel truck idling and peeked back out the window to see the teddy bear doing a lo-crawl (or being pulled by fishing line) across the front yard. I recognized the neighbors truck from a few doors down and thought maybe there were some friendly point and laughs going on. Was I mistaken.
Perhaps you are lucky enough to live in a neighborhood amongst the carefree. I am not. Apparently, my neighbors whities are a little too tighty and Mr. & Mrs. Sunshine did not see the humor in two middle school boys antics that afternoon. So, I made my way downstairs and out the back door to where the boys were hidden behind the fence. I got the lo-down, told them not to tick anyone else off and went back inside. (I know, I just did what any responsible parent would do. Send the award already.)
So back upstairs to cleaning and a few minutes later the boys come bustin' up the stairs laughing and saying something about the bear being heisted. I look out the window and there's Little Miss Sunshine walking away with the bear. And miles of fishing line wrapped around it's neck.
I'm not sure who called Jon first, because my though was 'dang, I'm gonna have to go down there and get that bear back. I know, I'll let Jon do it.' Anyway, he was alerted to the situation and happened to be on his way home. Just as he's driving by the neighbors house, said neighbor steps out into the road, makes him stop and she says, 'Excuse me sunshine, would you pull into my driveway so I can talk to you.' (Said in her best Joan Crawford 'Mommy Dearest' voice). Apparently Jon DOES NOT like being called 'sunshine', told her no and drove home.
So, as the boyz are telling Jon the whole story and I'm trying to stay composed, I notice a Sheriffs car in front of the neighbors house. Wha...? Are you serious? Kids are shooed inside as a Deputy pulls up in front of our house. She opened the trunk, took out the bear (with fishing line still tightly wound around it's neck) and walked down our driveway. It was at this point that I realized the hilarity of the situation and started laughing uncontrollably. Now the Deputy was very professional and the only thing she said, while trying to keep a straight face was, "Well, what they did wasn't against the law. Maybe they could just keep the bear on this side of the road." (She did not laugh, or roll her eyes. I promise.)
I was still laughing uncontrollably when she walked away and for those of you who know me, you know I have a very loud, distinct laugh. It's possible that the neighbors, who were outside at the time heard me. Probably why they still don't wave when I drive by.
Luckily, the bear was not harmed and it now rests peacefully on a shelf in the closet. Until next time.
