Tuesday, September 4, 2007

The blessing of humor

OK this is just a teensy bit off-color but I just have to share it because it so perfectly illustrates the value of a humorous moment deflating your Balloon of Doom and Gloom. We had a, um, not so joyful day of learning together today (I won't bore you with the details of my homeschooling angst), capped off by a starting-off-wonderful-turning-into-big-flop-at-the-end tae kwon do trial class for Ian. By the time we picked up Tim from school (too rainy for the bike), I was just barely holding back tears. We stopped at Central Market on the way home (kids eat free on Tuesdays!), and as we pulled into the parking lot, I noticed something through my blurry vision. Rather unfortunately, my eagle-eyed son did too, and next thing I know he's pointing to the car parked across from us and asking, "Why does that car say, 'WARNING: HOTTIE INSIDE' on the windshield?"
I tried, really I did, to maintain my sniveling composure and answer him with a smooth, nonchalant, "Well, perhaps that car is owned by someone named Hottie. As in, short for Horothea, or Hothilde." BUT, akin to my inability to read Dave Barry aloud to my husband, I could not make it though my sentence for giggling.
Mature and composed? Not so much. Feeling better almost immediately? You bet.

4 comments:

Tracee said...

Isn't it wonderful when they can read? Hehe!

Anne said...

Been there! So nifty how kids can do that and thus salvage our sanity. :-)

Jenny said...

Reminds me of the time when we were in a gas station bathroom during a long road trip, and Claire asked me, "Mom, what is 'ribbed for her pleasure'"? Yikes! LOL

Becca said...

So sorry you had one of those days! Maybe I shouldn't be quite so anxious for my oldest to be reading well...I'm thinking of the grocery store checkout line, in particular!