While our American friends commemorate Memorial Day, here in France we also have a three-day weekend in celebration of Pentecost. Well, it probably seems like a celebration if you don't have four small kids fighting like cats in a bag. Fortunately, the weather has been relatively nice, allowing me to send them "OUTSIDE TO PLAY!!!!" whenever the decibel level hits an arbitrarily determined level. Until I heard this:
Quarta: "AIEEEEE!!!!!"
X: "QU'EST-CE QUI SE PASSE????" ["What the hell is going on?"]
Terzo: "Secondo did it!"
Me: "Okay, I want an answer right now. What are you guys doing?"
Secondo: "We're just playing soccer!"
After bringing the gradually calming down Quarta inside, I asked X if he could figure out what was going on. He informed me that the boys -- led by Secondo -- were kicking soccer balls, with Quarta as the target.
Because Quarta was unhurt and at that point no longer upset, I started to laugh.
X: "What's so funny? That was awful."
Me: "I forgot for a second that you were a youngest child. I was the oldest--my memories are different."
Sorry, Sorella.
HAHAHA!!! Poor kiddo :( They better watch out some day she'll get even!
ReplyDeleteNo kidding! I have several younger siblings, all of whom grew up to be substantially bigger than I am. It's one of my biggest fears that they will all show up on the doorstep someday, looking for sweet revenge.
DeleteI'm an oldest, so I think along the same lines as you- as long as no one gets hurt, you can laugh!
ReplyDeleteActually, when I was a kid (NOT ANYMORE!!!), it was *especially* funny when somebody got hurt. Yes, I was a little douchebag.
DeleteThis brings back memories of you hiding around the corner of the stairs in a certain split-level house we used to live in, jumping out and scaring me, EVERY FREAKING TIME I PASSED BY. I can still see you breaking down in hysterical laughter. I can't totally blame you though...really, you would think after the 46th or 47th time, I would have been able to anticipate it.
ReplyDeleteThis brings back memories of when you would hide around the corner of the stairs in a certain split-level house we used to live in. You would jump out and scare me (bringing me to tears) EVERY FREAKING TIME I PASSED BY. Can't totally blame you...you would have thought after the 46th or 47th time, I would have been able to start anticipating it.
ReplyDeleteOh, I'm sure I was crying on the inside. I do remember that happening, and thinking that I had never seen anybody actually jump out of their skin before.
DeleteSo, uh, I'm sorry.