Yet another thing I didn’t expect I’d find myself saying to my kids. (Along with “Is anyone missing their snake head.”)
While school was still in session, my daughters were having a hard time getting work done because their brother kept wanting to pool noodle light saber fight them. They tried to decline his invitation due to prior responsibilities, but he was having none of that schooling nonsense.
That’s how I wound up ordering them to take turns fighting with him. Otherwise, this is how they have to attempt to work.

He’s just buttering her up before going into attack mode. She won’t see it coming that way.
Who or what keeps you from being productive these days?
I do spend a lot of time reading your blog. π
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Well, that’s a perfectly acceptable distraction, Andrew. That and caring for kitties, of course.
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So, nice that the children play w/each other. Ha ha.
Well, hopefully the play fighting is keeping everyone entertained.
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Keeping my blog friends entertained anyway, I hope. π
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I canβt really blame anybody for that. I do a pretty good job of procrastinating on my own. π
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Me too, Jill. Me too. π
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So cute!
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He’s lucky he’s cute.
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Soooooo funny! I imagine what it would sound like to someone listening in without context!!!!
Life in this new world is so challenging – not without its perks but certainly it compels us to think through how we want to live our lives. We were chatting over tea yesterday about attending Mass. We haven’t physically been to church for almost 5 months now, and it doesn’t like we will for a long time yet. So, how do we continue to connect with our community remotely? is the challenge at hand. It is good to have these things to ponder.
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We went back to our church for the first time in months last Saturday night. It was … not fun… We had to wait outside on X’s, then brought in a few at a time, pausing to get hand sanitizer squirted onto our hands. Then we were told where we had to sit, and we had to wear masks the whole time. I mean, I shouldn’t complain because we got to receive the Eucharist, but the kids did not at all enjoy this new procedure. The whole atmosphere was a little frightful.
But again, Mass is Mass. I shouldn’t complain! I hope you’re able to get back there sooner than expected!
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Your son is an angel. We can totally relate to this ‘fighting’. It is so much fun. Blessings to your family. Be happy always
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Thanks very much, Parneet. I’m quite certain my husband would laugh out loud at your description of our son as an angel. Quite often, he is anything but. We’ll keep him anyway. π
Blessings to you and yours also!
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π
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Since they aren’t my kids, it looks so darn cute!
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It was certainly cute enough for taking pictures, Jacqui! Glad you enjoyed. π
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Well, reading your blog keeps me from, oh, say, alphabetizing the spices. Cute little boy. I bet he takes after his grandfather.
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Well, that’s no good. How will you easily find the, oh, I don’t know, paprika?
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I completely understand the statement. And Joseph’s plan of attack. Having 7 siblings taught me much!
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Seven siblings! Same with my husband, actually. Now I know where Joseph gets it.
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Genetics.
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π
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Ha! I love it:) These days, it’s definitely the cat. He loves to get on my son’s bed and look out the window, but the other day, we were washing the sheets, so my son didn’t want the cat on the bed. He locked the cat out of his room and the cat screamed and screamed and screamed all day long–until those sheets were back on the bed and the cat could sit on them. Our cat is extremely, extremely spoiled–and needy.
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Your cat sounds a lot like my son.
At least your cat doesn’t need his bottom wiped.
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Umm–sometimes he does:(
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LOL!!!!
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I love your wise approach to sibling-ness. How funny. Whatever works, eh?
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That’s pretty much the motto for my parenting, AB. π
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I wish pool noodle light saber fights were limiting my productivity. Sadly, it’s just a bunch of tight deadlines…and they’re forcing me to focus on work. Boo!
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You’ve made it quite clear to everyone, Mark, that you have the coolest job ever, so your puny complaints are falling on deaf ears over here. π
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Awwww. So cute and fun, Betsy.
My grandson is an only, so his mom is having to pool noodle fight, build forts, and play legos. How she’d love to have a Joe around! Lol. You are blessed!
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Tell your daughter I’d be happy to set up a play date when school is back in session! π
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Good post
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Thanks.
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Ha, this is great! Taking turns (in fighting and play), an important and versatile skill to have.
I greatly enjoyed your book, btw – laughed my way through it. It also had me reminiscing about the younger years of my boys’ childhood.
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I’m not entirely sure when “taking turns fighting” will be an important life skill, unless he becomes a tag team wrestler. π
I’m so glad you enjoyed my book! If you felt up to (trying) to leave a review on Amazon, I’d be most grateful. I say trying because another blogger tried and failed to pass muster with the Amazon review police. (Yet two other bloggers were successful. So… ?) Anyway, I would be grateful if you tried! π
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Taking turns fighting could have potential for morphing into more of an intellectual wrestling such as a debate team. Trying to think outside the box here.
Hum, I’ve never left a review on Amazon before, but I will look into it.
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Thinking outside the box–nice. π
Leaving a review–first time for everything?
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my toddler… it takes 3 hours to write a simple email sometimes!
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Toddlers are definitely not for the faint of heart. Thanks for stopping by and commenting, Shelly. π
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Time does stand still with little ones.
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Or goes in slo-mo as you’re watching a vase fall over… π
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I don’t think it’s possible to be cuter than that young man. That smile! I imagine it’s not easy being stern with him.
I can’t remember if you home-school or not. If not, I imagine the last few months have been challenging, having to suddenly *become* a home-schooling parent. I feel for those of you with younger kids in these difficult times.
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I suspect he knows he’s cute and uses it to his advantage.
I’ve always been homeschooling, so that “transition” wasn’t difficult for us at all, fortunately.
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I imagine he does!
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The little rascal…
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First thing that went through my mind when I saw the top pic: OMG! So adorable!
The girls will either fondly remember being forced to pool noodle light saber fight with their brother, or they will make sure there is an ample supply of pool noodles available at his graduation (or wedding, whichever). Heh. That actually sounds like fun π
Stay cool! It’s effing tropical hot and humid here this week — ugh.
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Admittedly, that is a super cute photo of Joe. I’m amazed it came out so well. Usually when I ask him to smile, his face scrunches into a grimace because he doesn’t know how to smile on command.
The pool noodle wedding idea is fabulous! Especially if he becomes a massive Star Wars fan. The whole wedding could have a theme… I’m already started to plan…
Sorry about your heat. Ah, MN.
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You are an amazing, Mom, Betsy! A perfect solution in my books. Thank you for my smile.π
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Always happy to make you smile, Erica! π
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Pingback: Eat with your fingers! | parentingisfunny
So sweet!
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Ha. Sort of. π
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