Thursday Trash Can Races

Monday morning is trash day at our house, so the boys are supposed to bring the trash cans back up the driveway (which is about 1/8 mile) when they get off of the bus on Tuesday. Well, it was Thursday and the cans were still at the end of the driveway and I'd reached the end of my patience. I made Levi and Caleb stop the video games they had just started to play and told them to go get the trash cans. They grudgingly got their boots on and went out to get them.

I was busy cooking supper and I looked up at the clock and noticed it had been about 30 minutes since they had gone out. So, I went out to check on them and what I saw made me wonder if common sense is something they will grow into eventually or if we're just out of luck. They saw me and yelled excitedly, "Mom, come see this ! We've made up a great new game!"

Their new game was called Trash Can racing and involved one boy climbing inside the dirty, moldy, smelly, fly-ridden trash can and then putting the lid on securely after which the other boy pulled the trash can full speed down the driveway until they reached the finish line or it tipped over, spilling its occupant onto the gravel. And there was even some protocol attached (Levi's idea) : The person holding the trash can had to say "Come on in, the trash can's fine !" before the other person could enter the trash can. That was also the official slogan of Trash Can racing. I tried to convey the whole uncleanliness aspect of the sport, but Caleb said "Smell me Mom, I don't stink !" I declined the generous offer and they begged me to watch them each take one turn. I figured they were already germy and disgusting, one more ride each wouldn't hurt. So they demonstrated their new sport and afterwards I made them come in and immediately strip down and get in the shower.

By then, Daddy had gotten home and the boys couldn't wait to tell him about their new creation. Daddy shared my opinion on the whole germy and disgusting aspect of the sport. Levi said, "But we're going to have Trash Can Races every Thursday !" Daddy quickly nixed that idea and said we weren't going to have Trash Can races ever. We told the boys while we appreciated their creativity, imagination and enthusiasm, we valued their health and cleanliness even more.

Meanwhile, you may have noticed that Clay was unusually absent from this story. He has developed a great affinity for taking baths and he started one right when the boys left to go get the trash cans. I got caught up with cooking supper and the Trash Can races, so Clay got to soak in the tub for about an hour. So, while the older 2 boys looked and smelled like pigs, Clay looked like a tall skinny raisin. Just another relaxing night at home !