If anyone out there has asked this question do not fear I have the answer. It takes one 55 lb child...one 36 lb child...and one 33 lb child...simutaniously jumping on a bed before the wood frame splits in protests and falls to the floor.
I only wish I could have been in the room when my oldest realized what just happened and that the blame generally falls completely upon the shoulders of the one that SHOULD have known better. Was it horror...shock...regret...or some combination of the three. And, what did that face turn to the moment she realized it was also her who would have to come down and declare to mom and dad what just happened to their bed. I aslo wonder how long she stood looking at the calamity before she realized she could not fix nor hide the problem. I know the somber, miserable girl and the smirking little boy brought only bad news when they snuck into the living room that fateful Friday night.
I let Jason go up there. I let Jason be dissapointed in the children. I let Jason put them to bed. I sat on the couch doing my breathing exercises and counting to 10 a hundred times. When he came down and said we had to find another place to sleep for the night until he could take the bed apart and try and fix it tomorrow did I respond to this accident. I askend how bad it was and he said the wood was completely split but he had faith he could fix it. Fix it? How can you fix split wood? Whatever, I was going up to inspect.
Sure enough the demons jumped sooo hard and with enough force they split a solid piece of wood...splintered it rigt in half.
Now this is were things got wierd...I didn't yell...I cried. Anyone that knows me...knows this is not the general way in which I deal with problems. I go into my daughters room tears streaming and I tell her it was my grandmas bed and it meant a lot to me. That she did something she knew she wasn't supposed to do and she took something away from me. She sits up in bed in shock and promises she will never do it again. That she had no idea...that I never told her...that had she known she never would have jumped on it...I cry and cry and say I shouldn't have had to tell her...that it was mine and I never would have broken anything like that of hers. I am still crying and she feels awful...I mean awful. She asks if she can give me a hug and I say yes but it won't take away the hurt I feel...that I haven't been this sad since grandma passed away...
I let her give me a hug, put her to bed, and as I walk out of the room I look to the heavens and apologize to grandma andfor me using her memory in such away. I mean the bed wasn't even that great to begin with...but I feel like maybe she would be a tad impressed and a little more understanding...she did raise my dad. And, if guilt had worked on my dad she would have used it all day long. Actually, now that I think about it...guilt is probably why she posted the article on my dads near fatal car crash on her kitchen cubboard and why every time us kids came over she had us read it...dare I say it was the reading material she picked to help me learn to read. I'm sure my dad felt the stab of guilt every time it was read...and he was never in another accident again...so bravo grandma. I guess she taught me more than reading...she taught me a very important parenting weapon.
I went into my bedroom and picked up the fort we had built and thought they were sleeping in when this happened. I am folding blankets and Logan walks into the room. He is serious for once and he must have listened in to what I was saying to Lily. He runs to me and says I am soo sorry for your important memory bed (?) and I just want to tell you it wasn't me. It was Lily and Liam who ruined it...I knew it was wrong. Then he walks to his room and shuts the door...hmmm I have my work cut out for me with that one.
My husband hasn't fixed it yet...however he did brace it up with some bins from my kids play room...I guess you can take the man out of Mayville you just can't take the Mayville out of the man....I have my work cut out for me with that one as well...
P.S. It's been almost a month and not a one has jumped on my bed or theirs...so guilt peoples....guilt. It's a beautiful thing.
