I took my kids to my sister’s beautiful renewal of vows at my brother’s lakefront property. It was a gorgeous setting and as I stood with family and friends in a prayerful circle around the happy married couple I leaned over to my Mom, “Do you see Kainoa anywhere?”
I had misplaced my son.
I glanced quickly around the legs of those nearest me.
No Kainoa.
I discretely lifted my head from it’s bowed prayerful position and scanned those across from me.
No Kainoa.
My sister nudged me and pointed to the windows with her eyes and that’s when I saw my son’s head bobbing around my brother’s house. He was turning knobs on a stereo system, but by the time I tip toed over to him, his hands were in a package of dinner rolls.
Just making himself right at home.
“No Kainoa!!”
I snapped my fingers and pointed to my side while whisper yelling, “get over here now!”
He gave me that look that said, “I’m happy in here and I will not come to you and if you make me come to you I will scream and cry and disrupt the vow renewal happening outside and you will look like a horrible mother who cannot control her children. Is that what you want?”
So I grabbed a handful of dinner rolls and coaxed him to the patio where he proceeded to sit cross legged next to the barbecue grill.
Good enough.
I spent the rest of the afternoon keeping that boy in check and when it was time to leave I said goodbye to my sister, commented on what a handful he was and then we both watched him trip while walking up the stairs to our car.
I rolled my eyes.
“Of course he’s tripping while going UP the stairs. See what I mean about what a handful he is?”
We both laughed at his clumsiness.
And then I turned to follow.
And then I literally tripped going up the stairs behind him.
You know, just in case it was unclear who that boy’s mother was.