I Double Dog Dare You

One thing I love about the holidays is spending time with family. I love the late night discussions and reminiscing about old times. It is so much fun to sit around sharing stories. It is great fun when some of those stories create a feeling of shock from your parents. The high pitch squeal of a mother, "I didn't know you did that!" is priceless.

It reminds me of the time that Jared finally fessed up to being the kid who cut the phone wire. Everyone in the family thought it was Brent...including Brent. Jared managed to cut the wire, cover it up, convince Brent to dig in that area, point out the cut wire and convince Brent that he was the one who did it. Twenty years of blame accomplished in a few short minutes. Shame on Jared!

You know what? As fun as those conversations are, it really stinks to be on the parent end. I thought I had twenty years before I understood that feeling. I was wrong, and here is the story that created the high pitch squeal of "I didn't know you did that!" that escaped from my mothering lips.

We were in the car as another wave of quiet hit. The one that indicates it is time for a subject change. "I've tasted pee!" confessed Ian. "What?!" I exclaimed as I tried to focus on keeping the car in the correct lane of traffic. "Why?  Why would you do that?" I gasped.  "Oh, Eric dared me to drink my own pee and if I did it without making a face or throwing up he would pay me $20 bucks," Ian cheerfully volunteered.  "Eric, is this true?" I questioned while desperately hoping that it wasn't. "Yep." "Well did you at least pay him?"  You know, like that would make it better somehow.  Ian quickly interrupted.  "Naw, I made a face so you know, no money."  I managed to catch a glimpse of Eric in the rear view mirror.  He was smiling the Cheshire cat grin.  Shame on Eric!

I've decided we need a family home evening lesson on why not to take dares, especially from your brother.