It's Citrus

Last Friday night we arrived in Georgia to be instantly greeted not only by my father and step mother but also by a slew of ticks.  I walked from my car to the patio where my step-sister points to my sweater and says, "what's that?"  Yep--a tick.  Several hours later I found one burrowed into my waist.  I quickly removed it forgetting my Georgia roots and the lessons I learned about ticks--"NEVER", I was told, "take a tick off yourself.  You have to make sure you get it all, so find someone to help you."  Perhaps that was easy to follow as a tom-boy running half wild during long hot Georgia summers, but as a middle aged woman--well, I was just grossed out and wanted it off me.

Twenty four hours later we were headed to the beach--my waist kept itching, and I slightly raised my shirt to scratch, Caroline saw the flaming red welt and asked what happened.  Nonchalantly I replied, "I had a tick I took off."  My now living in Kentucky children apparently remembered their Georgia roots because they all shrieked, "You're not supposed to do that!!!!"  "Well I did." I answered, "It'll be fine."  That seemed to quiet them, and I thought to myself, "See I'm still in charge as the mother.  They still believe everything I say.  I can still calm them."

Fifteen minutes later-Christopher, "What if you get lemons?"  "Lemons?" I answered completely baffled, "We can get some at The Pig when we get there if you want."  "No--lemons disease from the tick." Christoper explained. I semi-contained my laughter and said, "Oh, you mean lymes disease--"  Christopher, "Well I knew it was some sort of citrus."

There was no good comeback

This it the first summer where I am working full time.  Having a child who is a driver, while increasing my gray hair, is also increasing the freedom I have to be gone.  We have hired Sarah Katherine to be our nanny/driver/errand runner etc.  Every morning before I leave for work--while they are still sleeping and will be for the next 4 or 5 hours, I leave a very detailed, and yes color coded note, on everyone's responsibilities for the day.  I am very careful to make sure they know what time they need to be at practices, games, camps etc.  Overall, this has been working very well.  Occasionally I have to "show" them the proper way to say  fold a shirt--seems they believe that if it is just smaller and can be shoved in their drawers it's folded.  But again, overall, I have been pleased.  They are learning responsibility and are enjoying some of their new found freedom.
Last week, Chris and I met to take care of some banking business.  We were close to home, so we decided to go home for lunch.  As usual, I had left a note for the two children in town.  The note was surprisingly short as they had been so good at being on top of things.  Christopher didn't have basketball until 4, so for the most part, minus the few chores I left (one each), they were free.
Chris and I walked in the house (1:00 pm) to find both still in their sleep attire and on various technological apparatuses.  Sarah Katherine had already completed her one chore of folding the laundry.  I certainly did not want to compare them, but I decided to ask anyway why Christopher hadn't finished his--
Me: Christopher, why haven't you cut the grass yet?

Christopher:  (barely looking up), Because I didn't think you'd be home yet.

And with that, I went to make my lunch.

PS--the grass was cut by the end of the day with no more reminders.