what was she thinking...

sometimes my wife is very funny.

occassionally people ask me what it's like to live with a crazy woman.  but they're surprised to hear that she's not actually a 24-hour-a-day comedian.

but tonight... at dinner.  well... let's just say she took center stage.

somehow we got talking about pranks we've played on people in the past.  and someplace along the way beth owned up to being part of a group of girls at camp who abducted another camper for a swirly.  (not sure if it's actually swirlee, or swirleigh, or swirley.) 

anyway... you've got to understand... the kids just have not seen that side of their mom.  outspoken, gregarious, fun... yes, but prankster... no.  so this was kind of a rare glimpse for them.   

the story... and her visual guilt... made it all very comical... ...that is until she did the unforgivable.  someplace in all the laughter, she told them that the girl deserved it.  she even laughed her "whole-neighborhood-can-hear-you-mom" laugh as she admitted the girl's hair actually looked swirled like a twisty cone when her head was removed from the poreclain guillotine!

now... as a parent... one of the things we work hard at teaching our kids is that vengeance is never our job.  mainly because it usually perpetuates a cycle of vengeance. 

even worse... the purpose of the prank was to get this girl (who shall remain nameless just in case she's been waiting all these years for some kind of retribution) to stop pulling pranks on the other campers!!!

so... funny story.  but... how long do you think it will be before that turns around to bite us in the you-know-what?  no doubt right after one of our offspring wedgies or de-pants some classmate whom they felt was deserving of a fate worse than death.

i can't believe she forgot one of the most basic rules of parenting... that being... sure, admit past mistakes... yes, tell funny tales from your childhood... ...but never-ever-ever let your kids know you were once evil!

good thing at least one of our pasts remains spotless and prank-free.

Comments

[Lois Lanham]

Uh oh, Randy,the "spotless and prank-free" comment is just asking for someone to tell your kids otherwise! Guess which of my parents was the prankster in college? None other than my very dignified, reserved, and always-following-the-rules mother. I don't think she participated in swirlies (another spelling), but she has a few stories of her own.

[Anon]

Thanks Lois! Talk about vengeance. I'm not sure if your btr's collarbone was broken after you pushed him down the first or the fifth time!

[randy]

ooooooooooo... sounds like someone is a little bitter.

[Rick Lingenfelter]

I'm just glad you wrote a post my little brain can understand (even though it comes at Beth's expense). I am still trying to figure out 'blue notes.'