Boy Stuff

It's been hot here. Very hot. Everyone is running around in minimal clothing, and my kids are allowed to run around the house as naked as they want to be anyway, but they've chosen that option more lately.

Yesterday my 11 yr old decided to make a fruit smoothie while wearing only underwear. Her little brother wandered into the kitchen to offer his help, and she flipped out, yelling at him that he had to be completely dressed to help her, or even be in the kitchen.

As her brother walked off to find some pants, I asked her why she was allowed to be undressed and cooking, but it wasn't okay for him.


11 yr old: Girls are okay if they're naked, but boys have... boy stuff... that falls off of them, and that's not good for cooking.

Pet Therapist

My 11 yr old daughter has long claimed to be a great "pet therapist" that can "cure" animals of whatever mental problem they possess. She is currently visiting her grandparents, who have two awful little dogs that hate everyone.

As a gesture of good-will, my daughter bought the dogs a new chew toy, which they love, but they still hate her. The dogs will happily chew on the toy, but if she gets anywhere near them while they chew it they bark at her, if she finds it not being chewed and picks it up they come running and bark at her, and if she throws it to them they make sure the chew toy is safe, then come running and barking at her.

Since my daughter has been so set on being a "pet therapist" for years, I asked her if she'd done anything else to try to help the dogs become nicer. Without missing a beat, she said, "Oh GOD, no! If they left me alone with those dogs, they'd kill me!"