It has happened. One of my sweet children has heartily declared that he hates me. Parker was feeling dejected and picked on this morning - likely a valid emotion with 2 older brothers - and his frustration and anger took the form of slammed doors and once-folded laundry thrown about his room. Not cool.

I took him into my room and set him in the corner, only adding to his frustration, I'm sure. His response was, "I hate you." Certain that I had heard him wrong, I asked him, "What did you just say?" He had the nerve to repeat it. "I hate you". Ouch.

As hurt as I was by the remark, my mind flashed back to my childhood. I would never have even thought of saying something like that to my mother; my Dad would have quickly put me out of my teenage-misery. I do recall once telling my mother that I "really didn't like her very much" - and even that was very risky. So - I scooped him up, took him to my bathroom, and put a healthy dollop of Japanese Cherry Blossom hand soap into his mouth. He was mortified. I don't think he ever considered that his mother would squirt possibly-toxic soap into his mouth. Really, he's just lucky his Dad wasn't home to hear it.

All the drama aside, he seems to have forgotten that he hates me. He has been my buddy all afternoon, really chatty and sweet. Does he realize I am the same horrid woman that pinned him down and put soap down his gullet? Anyway -

We went to the lake this afternoon - I took 5 kids. I'm either really brave, or just complacent. It was nice, though - only 90 degrees today. Marnie has graciously agreed to try to take a family picture of us while she is here, so we are going to try to make ourselves presentable for that tonight. It has been so much fun having her here. I'm off to violin lessons and whatever else my afternoon holds...

Adina