The Patter of Little Feet

It as been quite a change.  “Peace and Quiet” has taken on a whole new meaning in our lives.  Training little ones to use their “inside voice” is a new wrinkle, along with “Time Outs.”  I don’t recall what all we did when our children were little to achieve a modicum of order in the house other than spanking or the threat of it.  Actually, the major threat was a wide belt that I would simply crack for effect.   I still have that belt hanging in our closet.  When we’re gone, it’ll be an item for the heirs to squabble over. I don’t know what the little rubber tips on the end of the doorstops are called, other than “rubber tips”; but they were the first things to go.   They are choking hazards in the hands of a two-year old and they were his first targets in the house. We thought that we had child proofed, but we obviously missed a few things.  Getting the plastic door knob protectors was an early modification.  They are a deterrent, but can also become a problem even for adult motor skills.We had another pipe spring a leak in the same area as the previous one.  We’re getting to be old hands at this now and the neighbors are getting used to the plumber’s truck parked in front of the house.  Fortunately, we caught this one before much damage was done.  The idea has occurred to us that we may want to stop repairing these leaks and just turn the place into a water theme park for the kids.  Could get them away from the TV for awhile.