I always try and give each of the kids little chores around the house. They aren't much but I feel like it gives them a little ownership in what is going on or "wrong" in the house. I think I realized I need to start it when Nate came to me one morning and announced, "Mom, my blinds are really dusty in my room, you need to clean them, they are disgusting." (He was 4) I figured if there was ever to be any hope of him finding a wife, I better teach him how to get off his duff and take care of it himself (even if he is only 4). So, anyway, back to my story! I asked Jake to please set the table before dinner tonight. He was excited to help as normal. He gave everyone a napkin and a spoon and that is where things got interesting. As I am getting food on the plates I hear Jake say, "Here's your frickin fork!" as he chucks the fork across the table at Nate. Wade and I both looked at each other in one of those "now what?" moments. So, I sternly say, "Jake we don't say that...ever...for any reason." When Nate says, "It isn't as bad as the "F" word is it?" To which Wade says, "It is pretty much the same thing, and we don't ever want to hear it again." Nate looks at us with huge eyes and says in a whisper, "You mean it is as bad as F-R-E-A-K?????" So needless to say, at our house, for the time being, the worst word in the world, the dreaded "F" word is.....F-R-E-A-K!
The rest of the dinner conversation went something like this....."the parrot fish eats up rocks and coral reefs and then, this is the funny part, he poops sand!!!! He, he, he!" "So, next time you play in the sand at the beach you are playing in Parrot Poop!!! He, he, he!" Hey dad, "Why did the chicken cross the playground? To get to the other slide!" Wade and I both looked at each other in amazement...did Jake just actually tell a joke that made sense? Then..."Dad, why did the chicken cross the rain forest? To get wet! He, he, he!" And.......he's back! Few, I wasn't quite ready to be out of the Jake total goofy, nonsense zone!
