At least it’s for me and not at me.

Scene: Apartment. Alice is running from room to room, cursing under her breath. Henry is sitting amidst the piles of Star Wars guys.

Henry: Play with me. Play with me, Mommy. Play with me. Play with me. Play with me, Mama. [He knows this gets me.]

Alice: I can’t find my book. Where the hell did I put my book?

Henry: PLAY WITH ME.

Alice: I’m so frustrated! I have been looking everywhere for my book, which I just started, and I didn't want to like it but I do and I WAS JUST READING IT WHAT THE HELL DID I DO WITH IT?

Henry: I’m so frustrated too because you can’t find your book. Now play with me.

Alice: You have to give me a minute.

Henry: I am so mad at you right now.

Alice looks at the garbage bin. Could it be in there? But how? Why? What? She flips it open.

Alice: Henry! Do you want to hear a funny story?

Henry: I do want to hear a funny story.

Alice: My book was in the garbage, Henry. I put the book in the garbage. Because I am a crazy lady.

Henry: And I am laughing and laughing for you!

Comments

[a pleasant shade of green]

Uh-oh. I think the craziness may be contagious... I too am having a why's-my-book-in-the-bin kind of day but [sigh] I don't have a lovely Henry to make it better. Still chuckling from your last post too (and the last comment about the ads). Keep up the good work: my thesis (and sanity) depends on it!

[TB]

I almost put a package of pork chops away in our pantry (non-refrigerated) the other night. That would have been nice in a couple of days.

[WindyLou]

hmmmmm - perhaps Henry was laughing so hard because HE put the book in the garbage? Sounds like the type of thing I used to do. And that would make you not crazy!

[mathew]

i've done it all. bills in the garbage, canned peas in the freezer, peanut butter in the oven, my shoe, just once, in the vegetable crisper. it's a wonderful thing, that i'm not under constant observation that is.

and people wonder why i talk to myself! it's because i have to constantly reaffirm to myself that no, i'm not crazy!

[Bad Hippie]

I've been known to put the butter away in the freezer and the ice cream in the fridge on grocery-shopping days. My son is too old to hide stuff from me nowadays, but the cats do that when they want attention. Those cats - they've got me believing I'm one step away from the nuthouse.

[Bill]

I was skeptical too, but that book IS Excellent!

[Unique Baby Gifts]

That must be a mommy thing..I am always putting items in strange places too! - Jill

[debl]

I'm enjoying picturing Henry saying that last line in a deadly serious voice.

[Imperfect Mommy]

So glad this is not just me... it's called hurried woman syndrome. I wish I could remember a funny example of all the times I have done this, but that's the other casualty for me -- a memory that sucks ass. What the hell was I doing anyway?

[DM]

It's not just a mommy thing. I once was cleaning the bathroom and lost the cleanser. Couldn't figure out what I did with it and ended up retracing my steps. Turns out it was in the fridge.

Nothing says clean like chilled cleanser.

[Alexa]

Was he being sarcastic?Also, I had the exact same reaction to that book--got it as a gift, was somewhat dismissive of it, finally read it a year later and quite enjoyed it.

[Terry]

I tossed $50 cash into the garbage shortly after the birth of my 4th kid. The cash was still tucked into a "congratulations" card that, for some inexplicable reason, I felt driven to throw away.

I realized my mistake when I found the empty envelope jammed behind some stuff on the fireplace mantle. The feeling that came over me as I flashbacked to throwing away the CARD (with the money still inside) just about did this post-partum momma in.

God, that was 10 years ago and it still irks me to think about it!

[JuJuBee]

I couldn't begin to count how many times I have put the remote in the microwave or the milk in the panty. I really was thinking that Henry put the book into the trash, it would only further prove how smart he is.

[Nothing But Bonfires]

Maybe subconsciously you were like "Ah! This book will be awful! It must go in the garbage!"

[Eulallia]

Can you check your garbage for MY book? I can't find it anywhere, so maybe you threw it away with yours...?

[alice]

Clarifications: I put the book in the garbage, after wrapping it in a plastic bag. I have no idea why.

Henry's last statement was utterly sincere, accompanied, as it was, by peals of joyful laughter. Because it meant I could not join him in bashing Star Wars guys against each other.

[alice]

I mean, "I could join him." Not "not join him." sigh.

[Mir]

What a maelstrom of emotions that kid is. Frustrated, mad, joyful... I think he's my soulmate. How long until he's old enough to marry me??

[Amanda]

I've read that book and I'm confident you're not crazy at all.

[Emily]

I want to know how JuJuBee didn't notice the milk was in her panties. The remote control I can understand, but the milk?

Or was that a typo?

[Emily]

I want to know how JuJuBee didn't notice the milk was in her panties. The remote control I can understand, but the milk? Exactly how roomy are those panties?

[Emily]

Damn. Now my failed attempt at humor is up for all to see. Thank God I am starting Thanksgiving vacation TOMORROW.

[Mrs. Kennedy]

You'll finish that book and you'll think to yourself (rightly), "I could write something better than that."

[nate]

Delurking to say how much I love that Henry mirrored your best "How to talk so kids will listen" Faber/Ginott communication techniques...

[Monica]

Yeah, what Mrs. Kennedy said. Glad you found it though.