I was walking down the street with my kids yesterday. Nate and Gabe were on bikes and I was pushing Adrianna in the stroller. All four of us were enjoying the spring like weather. We were all glad that the cold winter was finally behind us.
Our neighbors, the Lindley’s, were unloading groceries from their car, and stopped me. I could tell they were eager to catch up on the happenings of the cold months, since we hadn’t visited since the fall. “Mom,” Nate said. “Can we play with Jack?” “Sure, but stay right here where I can see you.” Jack, one of Nate’s classmates, had been playing baseball with his dad in the front yard and when he saw that I had stopped to chat, he asked if the boys could play. They headed over to an empty lot across the street to play in the mud and throw rocks and sticks. Harmless, right? We’ll see!
The talk was small between the Lindley’s and I. They continued on and on about how quickly the children were growing. I agreed.
“Mom,” said Nate. “Mom,” said Gabe. I ignored them, not wanting to have my conversation interrupted. “Mom,” Nate said, a little louder. “Mommy,” said Gabe, a little more impatiently. “Just a minute, boys, I’m talking,” I said, a little irritated that they were interrupting again. I could see that they didn’t need anything important…at least I didn’t think they needed anything important.
“Mom,” Nate said again. Once again, I ignored him. “AMANDA!” he shouted. “Gabe is stuck!” I looked up and saw that my 3 year old, who was luckily wearing fireman boots that I tried to talk him out of, was sinking slowly into the mud. I, wearing flip flops, ran over to him and tried to pull him out. Unfortunately, Nate wasn’t exaggerating…he WAS STUCK! He was so stuck, in fact, that I couldn’t pull him out easily. I assured him that it was just mud and he wasn’t going to get hurt, although I wasn’t so sure about that. I just wanted him to remain calm. I held his leg in one hand and his boot in the other, and pulled hard with both hands at the same time. One leg was free. I knew I had to act quickly on the other foot; otherwise, he would begin sinking again. I successfully freed him. Once again, Mom saves the day! “Now, get over there in Jack’s yard, boys, and stay out of the mud,” I said. I took a deep breath, relieved that things didn’t get too out of hand. That relief quickly dissipated, when I realized that I, too, was stuck in the mud. Who was going to save me? The kids? The Lindley’s? At this point, the mud was just a few inches from me knee. I managed to pull one foot out, leaving my flip flop buried in the sludge. If my 38 pound son was sinking at a rate of about 3 inches a minute…you can imagine how quickly I was sinking! If I didn’t get the other foot out quickly, I would soon be re-stuck! I somehow got the other foot out successfully, saving my other flip flop. Although, I wasn’t thinking at the time, what I would do with just one flip flop! I ran out of that mud as fast as I could, hoping to save my physical self as well as my pride. I was unsuccessful at the latter.
Just after making it to the street, I noticed the boys were playing happily in Jack’s yard and several neighbors, including Nate’s teacher, the unusually quiet older couple up the street, and Jack’s mom and dad, had been enjoying the show. I walked over to the Lindley’s, thanking them for watching Adrianna while I saved my son from the monstrous mud pit. Just about then, Nate had ventured back over the empty lot to get a ball that Jack had hit across the street. “Mom,” he called. I didn’t want to look. Luckily, he was able to get his foot out of the mud, but left his shoe behind. He had to put his foot back down, wearing only his sock, to free his other foot. The good news is that he saved both shoes and I didn’t have to go in after him. The bad news is that we had to throw those socks away.
We said our goodbyes to the Lindley’s and headed back home. After only about 20 feet, Nate started to get wobbly on his bike and just like a domino, he tumbled. “Mom, I’m stuck.” I’d heard that already today and knew that there was no way he could be stuck under his lightweight two-wheeler. I got closer. He was right…he was stuck! After taking off his socks, because they were muddy, he put his shoes back on without tying them. His shoe laces were wrapped around the pedals of his bike! I parked Adrianna’s stroller, told Gabe to hold up, and bent over, trying to free another child from being STUCK!!! I was able to unravel one shoelace, but because my hands were covered in mud from the previous rescue, it was taking me a while to free the other shoe. Nate lay there in the street, quietly. Just then, the Lindley’s came running out and bravely took on the task of saving Nate from the shoelace eating pedal of his bicycle. Just then, Jamie, a friend from church, drove by, on her way home from work. Typically, I’m not easily embarrassed, but did everyone I know have to see us experience these unfortunate mishaps? Finally, Linda had Nate untied. Jamie drove off, the Lindley’s headed back home after I thanked them generously, and we were FINALLY headed home. I prayed, “Please God, get us home safe.” This is typically not a prayer I have to say while on a walk around our neighborhood!
We got home and hosed ourselves off. I put Nate’s tennis shoes in the washer, his socks and my one flip flop in the trash, and left Gabe’s fire boots on the back porch to dry.
Our neighbors, the Lindley’s, were unloading groceries from their car, and stopped me. I could tell they were eager to catch up on the happenings of the cold months, since we hadn’t visited since the fall. “Mom,” Nate said. “Can we play with Jack?” “Sure, but stay right here where I can see you.” Jack, one of Nate’s classmates, had been playing baseball with his dad in the front yard and when he saw that I had stopped to chat, he asked if the boys could play. They headed over to an empty lot across the street to play in the mud and throw rocks and sticks. Harmless, right? We’ll see!
The talk was small between the Lindley’s and I. They continued on and on about how quickly the children were growing. I agreed.
“Mom,” said Nate. “Mom,” said Gabe. I ignored them, not wanting to have my conversation interrupted. “Mom,” Nate said, a little louder. “Mommy,” said Gabe, a little more impatiently. “Just a minute, boys, I’m talking,” I said, a little irritated that they were interrupting again. I could see that they didn’t need anything important…at least I didn’t think they needed anything important.
“Mom,” Nate said again. Once again, I ignored him. “AMANDA!” he shouted. “Gabe is stuck!” I looked up and saw that my 3 year old, who was luckily wearing fireman boots that I tried to talk him out of, was sinking slowly into the mud. I, wearing flip flops, ran over to him and tried to pull him out. Unfortunately, Nate wasn’t exaggerating…he WAS STUCK! He was so stuck, in fact, that I couldn’t pull him out easily. I assured him that it was just mud and he wasn’t going to get hurt, although I wasn’t so sure about that. I just wanted him to remain calm. I held his leg in one hand and his boot in the other, and pulled hard with both hands at the same time. One leg was free. I knew I had to act quickly on the other foot; otherwise, he would begin sinking again. I successfully freed him. Once again, Mom saves the day! “Now, get over there in Jack’s yard, boys, and stay out of the mud,” I said. I took a deep breath, relieved that things didn’t get too out of hand. That relief quickly dissipated, when I realized that I, too, was stuck in the mud. Who was going to save me? The kids? The Lindley’s? At this point, the mud was just a few inches from me knee. I managed to pull one foot out, leaving my flip flop buried in the sludge. If my 38 pound son was sinking at a rate of about 3 inches a minute…you can imagine how quickly I was sinking! If I didn’t get the other foot out quickly, I would soon be re-stuck! I somehow got the other foot out successfully, saving my other flip flop. Although, I wasn’t thinking at the time, what I would do with just one flip flop! I ran out of that mud as fast as I could, hoping to save my physical self as well as my pride. I was unsuccessful at the latter.
Just after making it to the street, I noticed the boys were playing happily in Jack’s yard and several neighbors, including Nate’s teacher, the unusually quiet older couple up the street, and Jack’s mom and dad, had been enjoying the show. I walked over to the Lindley’s, thanking them for watching Adrianna while I saved my son from the monstrous mud pit. Just about then, Nate had ventured back over the empty lot to get a ball that Jack had hit across the street. “Mom,” he called. I didn’t want to look. Luckily, he was able to get his foot out of the mud, but left his shoe behind. He had to put his foot back down, wearing only his sock, to free his other foot. The good news is that he saved both shoes and I didn’t have to go in after him. The bad news is that we had to throw those socks away.
We said our goodbyes to the Lindley’s and headed back home. After only about 20 feet, Nate started to get wobbly on his bike and just like a domino, he tumbled. “Mom, I’m stuck.” I’d heard that already today and knew that there was no way he could be stuck under his lightweight two-wheeler. I got closer. He was right…he was stuck! After taking off his socks, because they were muddy, he put his shoes back on without tying them. His shoe laces were wrapped around the pedals of his bike! I parked Adrianna’s stroller, told Gabe to hold up, and bent over, trying to free another child from being STUCK!!! I was able to unravel one shoelace, but because my hands were covered in mud from the previous rescue, it was taking me a while to free the other shoe. Nate lay there in the street, quietly. Just then, the Lindley’s came running out and bravely took on the task of saving Nate from the shoelace eating pedal of his bicycle. Just then, Jamie, a friend from church, drove by, on her way home from work. Typically, I’m not easily embarrassed, but did everyone I know have to see us experience these unfortunate mishaps? Finally, Linda had Nate untied. Jamie drove off, the Lindley’s headed back home after I thanked them generously, and we were FINALLY headed home. I prayed, “Please God, get us home safe.” This is typically not a prayer I have to say while on a walk around our neighborhood!
We got home and hosed ourselves off. I put Nate’s tennis shoes in the washer, his socks and my one flip flop in the trash, and left Gabe’s fire boots on the back porch to dry.
I’ve always considered our neighborhood very safe. Not now! Take my word for it, on the corner of Carriage Lane and Barouche Street there is a shoe eating mud pit that’s not safe for children or adults.
By the way, the 2010 Boy Scout Pine Derby was a success! Nate came in 3rd place in his category! Good memories!
Nate, with his Participation and 3rd place trophies!
1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners.
Placing the cars on the track...
The competition...
He's so cute in his Cub Scout uniform!
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