Bad Idea

A fact of parenting: siblings tease each other. A fact of parenting learned over time: siblings NEVER quit teasing each other.

All the kids are home right now. Alison is camping here due to flooding in western Iowa and roads and interstate closings. She lives about 25 miles from work but since the road between her place and work is closed for the foreseeable future she's bunking with us.

All the kids tease one another but when you add Alison into the mix the teasing is amped up....tremendously. One of the things they tease Sydney about was that Rachel and Alison told her (at the bus stop so I plead complete ignorance at the time) that we were returning her to the "Sydney store." Sydney totally believed the story and waited at the driveway for the store to pick her up.....yes, there was punishment for the two offenders when this was discovered.

The boys are familiar with this story because Sydney will have the last say in this story even 13 years later. Last night we went out for supper and the usual teasing was going on except with a twist.... Eli was getting the better of Alison. Those knowing Alison also know that to try to keep up with her verbally is a feat. She, in her somewhat bewildered state having not experienced this challenge fell back on an old standby. She threatened to have the Eli Store come for him.

Eli, never missing a beat, told her...."That's not a good idea. I don't think so." and then he continued to pester her to death. Alison had to concede defeat, Rachel was mysteriously silent and Sydney was laughing at finally witnessing retribution.....Lucas was smart he remained under the radar and was busy gaining knowledge of what irks which sibling for what I'm sure will be future ammunition.