Marker Mayhem

For the foreseeable future we will not be using markers at our house.  On several occasions Ella has used her arms, legs, and face as a canvas for her art, but more recently Will has gotten in on the act.  Its not so bad when its the arms, its easy to wash off and doesn't really cause problems.  All the same, I've told them they need to use paper, I have the foresight to see a problem coming from such a habit.

Then last week Jack got out the markers and was drawing in his journal(something he needs to do everyday), there was lots of laughter, I was just glad they weren't fighting.  I checked on them and just told them not to draw on themselves, I could see there was already a long mark up Will's arm.  A few minutes later I went back in and see Will butt naked with the creative markings of Jack all over him.  I didn't have the camera at home, but it probably would have been inappropriate anyway.  There was a sunshine around his belly button, marks up and down his legs and arms, it was on the bottom of his feet.  Jack had made some kind of interesting marks streaming from his nipples, and there was even marks on his penis!  I DON'T want to know what they were thinking, its scary inside the brain of a boy. 

If any of you know how washable markers work, you'll know as soon as they get wet, they start to drip.  Since Will had it on the bottom of his foot it started rubbing off onto the carpet, by the way, it was black.  Luckily, since it was washable, Jack had an easy time cleaning it.  Notice how Jack cleaned it.

I usually don't appreciate the hysterics of these situations.  I must say, this time I was able to step back a bit and let myself laugh.  Of course, I didn't let them see that, but I didn't fly off the handle either.  I was able to stay cool and calm.  As small as that may seem to you, this is a victory for me, this is something I have been learning.  Its the small moments in life where we claim the victories.  We often overlook these "little" moments and just think victory is a noticeable and momentous occasion that everyone can see.  As much as those times are, even more so are the ones that no one else will notice.  And luckily, God is always watching and always celebrates these times with me, and I'm sure He is laughing right along with me.