Puh-Klunk

We had a loooong day together. Without getting into personal details, I'll just say we spent eight hours taking care of some necessary business and the kids were exhausted as a result.

Now, my little "big" guy, Reece, does not fare well when he's tired. He is usually the one who makes the rest of us laugh with his silly antics, but skip some Z's and that boy's a whiner. Today he definitely skipped a few Z's. Whine alert!

So we have a bunch of "retro" games in our game arsenol. Operation. Don't Break The Ice. Twister. Ker Plunk. Reece loves marbles and that means he loves Ker Plunk, or as he calls it, "Puh-Klunk."

So we decide to play Puh-Klunk before the kids hole up for the night. Do not, I repeat, do not attempt to play this game when you've had a looooong day as I had. There are about 30 plastic sticks (like wooden skewers) that you have to shove through tiny holes in a criss-cross pattern to set up the game. Those babies were falling out as quick as I shoved them in. It flustered me to no end, especially with 5 year old Reece eagerly dancing over my head, giggling each time one fell out.

"That's funny, Mama. Hahahahaha!"
"Mama has little patience and lots of weapons. Now back off before I consider taking a crack at amateur acupuncture with these things."
Disclaimer: Mama would never say or do this, of course. She was just delirious from all that stickin'.

I finally got the game set up (nothing says "good times" like a 15 minute prep for a whopping 90 seconds of heated competition) and we began.
Pull a stick. Nothing. Pull a stick. Nothing. Pull a stick. Nothing. Continue this drudgery for a good twenty times. I didn't know if I should laugh or be genuinely concerned over their focus and interest in this mindless challenge.

Finally,...kerplunk, kerplunk. A good six or seven marbles fell into Reece's holding tray. I act like I'm pumped up by the action that just occurred.

"Whoa, Nellie. That's a big load you got yourself there, buster." Academy award performance by yours truly. I just knew the kids would be into the game all the more, what with mom's sudden expressed interest.

So, how does Reece respond to my enthusiasm?
Bring out your best wine whine 'cuz here it comes.
"Whaaaaaa!" Tears began falling and he literally fell face first to the floor.
"I'll never win now. NEVER!"
"Honey, it was only the first puh-klunk. You could still win."
"You don't have six marbles in your tray. I do. Dat's waaaay too many to win."
He was cryin' his tired little heart out and I was completely failing to comfort him.

Olivia took her turn and like a stick bandit, she slides one out with nary a ball dropped.
"Whaaaaa! Sissy did-ent get any marbles. Now I know I won't win."
"Aw come on, honey. There are still lots of marbles in the holder. It's too early to know who will win. Let's just play some more."
I take my turn and try with all my effort to drop a load. Two stinkin' marbles.
"Whaaaa!" (I'm beginning to get the giggles at this point, punch drunk mama that I am. So bad mommy turns away until she can compose herself).

It's Reece's turn again. Please, Lord. Please, please, please. Don't let any marbles fall in his........
JACKPOT!!!!! Reece scores another 8 marbles or so, throws his head back, opens his mouth wide and wails at his unwelcome fate. I'm trying to call the game. He cries even more.
"NoooOOOo! I want to play. You said we could play."
So I'm stuck in a wharped moment of playing "Puh-Klunk" with a kid who is dead tired, taking his turns through a blur of crocodile tears, and insisting we play on.
Liv's turn. She (thankfully) gets about nine marbles in her tray. But then,...
Ut oh! It occurred to me there were only 3 marbles left in the holder. What to do? What to do?

Now I know some of you will think me the worst mother ever for what happened next (there's probably a blog award for "worst mother" somewhere in blogosphere and I'm sensing the nominations pouring in). But, I just couldn't stand to see my little "big" man so distraught over his beloved game of Puh-Klunk, which he had asked at least 27 times to play today. It was a split second decision. It was shady. Wimpy. Yes, even dishonest. But before I knew it, my big paw was in the cookie jar, (er, his tray) and I was swiping marbles with the skill of a cat burglar (cat burglar n. A burglar who is especially skilled at stealthy or undetected entry of a premises). Yep, I was undetected alright. Suddenly, Reece had a mere six marbles in his tray. A few more plunked into mine as I removed the last stick and, joy of joys, he "won".

Now, for those who think this was the worst move ever, that I lost a teachable moment, that I corrupted him, set a bad example, yadda yadda yadda. I'm not going to deny that (actually, I'm pleading the fifth on the grounds that I might just incriminate myself). Really,this is so not what I would normally do. I don't throw games.

But something in his tired cry tonight just tugged at my heart. He was exhausted, but soooo wanted to play his beloved game. And he was heartbroken that he couldn't find pleasure in it when he played. My decision may have been many wrong things, but as I see it, it was also a moment of grace. I was lenient in the face of his tired tears. There will be so many future moments to teach him that he can't always have his way or be on the winning team (and we do strive to teach that lesson). But for tonight, he desperately wanted to be Top Dog in the game of kuh-plunk.

Gosh, how many times I have whined to the Lord. Been needy. Wanted desperately to "win" in some way in my own life. And not always, but sometimes, He has allowed me my whiny moment and my "win." Yes, He extends grace when we are not deserving. He has done that for me again and again. And I chose (albeit less purely) to extend a bit of grace to my whining tired boy tonight. He went to bed calm and ready for rest. And he'll need it because tomorrow? I'm reclaiming my Puh-Klunk crown.

2 Peter 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.