You know the hard part about disappearing for months? When you finally reemerge from the abyss you have a million things to talk about, but not a single good starting place. I told myself I would not recap and I won't. I will do my best to fill in the gaps as we go along.
"Mama," five and a half year old Alice yelled up to me from the back door. "I'm not having any fun."
"Why not?"
"There are spider webs in my play house and I'm too heavy to slide on the kick board."
It had snowed this morning, but with above freezing temps it has begun melting. Sidewalks have been cleared, leaving the only good snow in our back yard. "Have you made snow angels yet?" I suggested.
"No. That's a good idea," she stated with a hint of a smile on her lips.
Gone for mere seconds I heard the familiar click of the back door knob followed by her happy voice.
"Mama! I am having so much fun! I found the best game ever!"
"What's that?" I asked.
"I'm brushing Marley's tail with ice!"
"Hmm. Really?"
"Yes. And it's so much fun. But I am getting ice in her fur. But she doesn't mind it. I'm so glad I thought of this game!!"
I, too, am glad she thought of the game. Does it make me the worst pet owner ever that I didn't demand she stop? Or when, fifteen minutes later, I went on the back porch to check on them and she was still brushing the dog with handfuls of ice packed snow and, still, I did nothing? No. I stand firm. I love my dog and I love my child and if this is how they choose to entertain themselves on our third snow day in a row, so be it. Her wonderful game was allowing me peace and quiet. I mean really, if the dog was truly being hurt she'd bite Alice, right?