Sunday, September 24, 2006

700 Q-Tip Pick-Up

Has anyone ever gotten to play this game? If not, you are missing out. If you are unfamiliar with it, let me tell you about it.
The best time for this game to take place is when you are unable to really get to your toddler - say for instance you decide you HAVE to take a shower today, so you lock both yourself and your toddler in your bedroom while you take a 5 minute shower. Of course, you could get to him in a real emergency, but 700 Q-Tip Pick-up isn't an emergency - even if it is extremely annoying. So, basically while you are attempting to wash your hair and your body fast enough to prevent any other fun toddler games from happening, you realize that your very excited two year old is frantically shaking a massive Costco-size box of Q-tips all over the bathroom. Once he has completed this task, he then begins to clean out his ears with every Q-tip he can get his hands on - because he hears you making annoying empty threats from within the shower, and he knows his freedom will soon come to an end. So, the game continues even after I emerge from the shower because I am really not interested in squatting down to help him while I am unclothed and dripping with water. And now he realizes he's getting an extra three minutes of freedom, so he begins wildly running through the Q-tips to spread them out even more all over my filthy bathroom floor - which is another issue altogether.
Once I'm finally dressed, he's already had so much Q-tip fun, that it's almost impossible to really gain control of this situation - he's just so excited about his masterpiece that he's created. Because of this, it takes about half an hour to clean them all up, which he amazingly makes into another frustrating game of throwing handfuls of Q-tips into about a 3-inch opening in the box, or picking them up one by one and putting them away in slow motion. Is this kid already mocking me??
So, after way too many motherly cliche's that I thought I'd never hear myself saying, and a couple of time-outs, we both went on with our day happy that he had such a fun time with the Q-tips.

4 comments:

lizzie said...

Funny! Now I know what to get Eli for Christmas!

Anonymous said...

This story cracked me up because I could totally see him hurrying to empty the box and make the most mess possible before you could get to him. And yes, I do think he was mocking you, but just be happy it's not with words yet... :) Tell the little dude I said hey. We miss you guys!

Anonymous said...

Hilarious! HE'S the best guy!

Anonymous said...

Dear Elizabeth Mai, Do you think Q-Tips are a male fascination? At my really advanced age I hav yet to purchase one (that is 1) Q-Tip for my personal use. When my nephew was showering here when he was putting in his bath, I had to ask him not to throw used (for his eaRS) q-TIPS DOWN THE TOILET. Ther4e was a similar problem when I was married. But, it sounds like the adorable 2-year old had a good time. Love to all 4 of you. Grandma