Soap Poisoning

I believe Niel posted a while back regarding Zander and his colorful language. I have good news, those horrible words are a rarity these days. As a matter of fact, the cussing has stopped!! However, Zander's little lips tend to get the best of him at times. "You are stupid" or "Shut-up" are angry words he tends to use when he is frustrated. Even though he has come a long way in his use of good language, stupid and shut up are just not words I like to hear in our house. I told him the next time he said either one he would visit the kitchen sink and get a taste of the clean soap on his tongue. Well, the trip to the sink was memorable.

I was sleeping when I heard Zander beginning to become frustrated at Conner. Conner was being very helpful to Zander, pouring him a bowl of cereal for breakfast. Conner had used the wrong bowl, which just doesn't sit will with Zander. So, Zander blurted out the words, "You are stupid Conner!"

I quickly jumped out of bed and into the kitchen. I picked up Zander and told him it was time to try out the soap. Dirty words would have to be washed out of his mouth. I have to tell you I was being very calm, but I could tell Zander was pretty worried. He had never tasted soap before so I believe he was unsure if this was a good thing or not. He didn't want to open his mouth though, knowing it must not taste that great otherwise I wouldn't be trying it as punishment. I pressed down on the soap dispenser and drop a tiny little dab of flowerly scented hand soap on his tongue. Immediately he began to scream. It was obvious he didn't like the taste. He cried and cried! It was the full mouth cry too with lots of sound. He was loud and dramatic enough to wake up the entire house. He just sat on the floor and offered a theatrical scene to anyone who would be willing to watch. All the kids did come see him, but thought it funny more then anything. This went of for quit a while. I asked him if he wanted a drink but Zander is very stubborn and just cried in a higher, more loud pitch when anyone would talk with him.
Finally, after 15 minutes or so, after the attention of his brothers had ceased, he agreed to take a drink. Again, being the dramatic child he is, he told me his arms were just too tired and he needed me to hold the cup up to his mouth. With a slight laugh, and a little roll of my eyes, I put the cup to his lips so he could partake of the water. He lips seemed to be too tired to drink as well because the water just trickled from his lips and onto the neck line of his t-shirt. It took a lot not to find this humorous but it was hard not to laugh at this poor little boy.

Zander went around all morning drooling and whining. It took a while for him to calm down. When we seemed to at least be at the end of this production, Niel picked him up. Niel asked him, "Why did you get your mouth washed out with soap?" Very meekly Zander replied, "Because I said Stupid." "Are you ever going to say it again?" With very big eyes and a sincere voice his reply was "No!"
It was been two weeks since the soap poisoning incident and Zander will still tell you about it. He hasn't even come close to letting those words escape from his lips. And, if he hears anyone say stupid, he is quick to remind them it isn't a word they should be saying.

Thougtful

Niel and I teach the 5 year old primary kids. In our class, we are lucky enough to have one of our own... Garrett! It is fun to have him in our class. One of the little boys, Cayden, has a hard time. He loves to be with his dad. Every once and a while, he will get a little teary-eyed as he comes to sit with our class. Cayden is a very good boy and we love having him in our class. It breaks my heart to see him sad. This past Sunday, Garrett saw him crying. Garrett was sitting next to me, but when he saw Cayden, we got up and went down the row quit aways to sit next to Cayden. Garrett said, "I know it is sad to leave your mom and dad. I get sad too sometimes. But I can share my mom with you if you want. She is really nice." Cayden didn't say anything, but he smiled a little. Garrett sat next to him for a while longer. He told me later, he was making sure Cayden was all right.
How thoughtful! Garrett brought a smile and a tear to my eye. What a great example he is to me.