KidSense

Maura graciously allowed me to shirk my parental responsibilities yesterday afternoon, so I could join some east-coast friends playing a computer game. It went on way longer than anticipated - from 4 to around 11:30pm. From the start, however, there was a bit of miscommunication. Shortly after I started, Maura told me that she was going to drop some checks off at the bank. I, engrossed by the game, was completely oblivious to this. Maura left, I kept playing.

The kids, perhaps using some kid-sixth-sense tuned to the level of supervision they are receiving, took advantage of the situation. Megan plastered the back of my chair with about half the address labels our rental agent gave us to send in checks. Riley threw some papers on the floor, found a box of toothpicks somewhere, ripped them open, and chewed on them. When I came to from my game stupor I found him hanging out in the family room with a AA battery, a choking-sized rock, and a nail. Not good.