Tater tot Casserole

So the other night I made a tater tot casserole for dinner. We've eaten this simple dish for years it's easy and quick to make, cheap and of course- yummy. Well the other night it was just another tater tot casserole but not just another night! I finished setting the table and called the kids in from the yard for supper (same as always) and then when we were sitting down to eat- Jax freaked!

It was crazy, he was so upset- apparently he loathes tater tot casserole now and he absolutely refused to eat it. So that obviously wasn't the funny part- he was clearly sent to his room without supper for getting so angry and disrepectful. He spent his time in 'time out' and eventually got hungry enough to come up and eat the oh-so-horrific-"stinky-ugly"casserole.

So, later that night, I was down in Jax's room putting away laundry and I noticed he'd written on the headboard of his bed- in black marker- "your tatertot casserole smells like poop even tastes like poop!" I know I should have been furious! But I laughed and I laughed hard- I still laugh just thinking about it! I showed Dave and he actually laughed too, it was so funny in his little-kid-chicken-scratch handwriting. I, of course, put on my serious-mommy-face and called him down for a chat after which he apologized and cleaned it up (it was a dry erase marker so thankfully it cleaned right off- I do wish I'd taken a pic first though) What a funny kid. I never would have thought of doing something like that- not now or when I was kid! Not that I'm condoning it or whatever- but Dave and I have been striving in our companion study to take advantage of the little moments and enjoy the journey and I really think that helped me not to be angry.

I really feel that the spirit helped me to appreciate the small joy in that moment. I am so greatful for that. I typically would have been upset in the initial moment and looked back and laughed later. To me this was a tender mercy. We all need to take ourselves less seriously and laugh more. My kids are the BEST! I love that they teach me humility, paitience and joy- I especially love JOY. Maybe someday Jax will read this and laugh- in the meantime hopefully he learned something. . . we'll see!

I'm grateful to be blessed to be the mom of such a sweet, passionate, determined and spirited little boy. We talk all the time about his many talents. I think those characteristics are all some pretty special talents, and with a little refining, I also think those very talents will help him be a huge influence for good in the Lord's hands and I am so thankful he's mine!