You Reap What You Sow

By: Angela Gillaspie Copyright © March 2002

Mondays through Wednesdays we have a semi-normal life with the highlight of the day being when we sit down and have supper as a family. We usually discuss school, homework, soccer, and upcoming events. Once in a while, I'll pick a word, usually a word the kids don't know, and that will be our "Word of the Week." I write it in big letters on the bulletin board next to the table and we talk about what it means during supper. The kids have learned words like 'consideration', 'surly', and 'indignant' to name a few.

This past week while we were eating supper, the six-month-old grunted and broke wind quite loudly. My hubby and I smiled and continued forking peas into our mouths, while the boys began cackling and our daughter rolled her eyes. Wanting to use this as an opportunity to learn I got up and wrote the word ‘flatulent’ on the bulletin board and we proceeded to have an animated discussion about it.

During the week, the kids used their new vocabulary word often.

"Mommy! He's being FLATULENT!"

"Hey, I heard somebody be FLATULENT!"

And, "Show some consideration when you are FLATULENT - you're making me surly!"

The end of the week was really hectic. Thursday, there were three different soccer practices that started at 5pm, and Friday, there was shopping, a trip to the pediatrician, and another soccer practice. On Saturday, there were two rainy soccer games and less than two hours to get snacks baked and the house straightened for a Girl Scout meeting. I had just finished blow drying my hair and pulling on my jeans when the doorbell rang.

Later as I cleaned up the kitchen after the meeting, I happened to look up at the bulletin board to see our Word of the Week greet me in great big letters. I can only imagine what the DARE officer thought.

I'm just glad he didn't ask for a demonstration.

Stay tuned for more SouthernAngel's flatulent fun!