The After Work Rush

Brendan and Mommy race from the car into the house after picking up little man from school. Daddy has already beaten us home for the day and is finishing up mowing the front yard. After a few minutes of goofin' off as a family, Mommy and Brendan head inside to start dinner. Brendan is in charge of dessert, Mommy is in charge of the rest. Brendan eagerly slides his stool over to the counter and picks up the Jello Instant Pudding Box. "Mommy can you open this please?" "In just a minute." Before I can get across the kitchen to open the box, the impatient or efficient one depending on your viewpoint has already stepped down, scooted his stool across the floor, climbed up, opened the fridge, grabbed the milk, shut the fridge, climbed down, scooted the stool back across the room against the counter and is waiting patiently next to the pudding box. All of this just in time for Mommy to arrive at the counter and open the box of pudding. A quick, "thanks Ma-ma" is heard as he dumps the pudding box into the bowl and then requests "now can you poor me some milk please? In the little cup." Mommy suggests the 1 cup measuring device but there is little reseasoning with such a stubborn force so after a few small back and forth comments, Mommy gives in and Little man victoriously picks up the 1/4 measuring cup. Mommy poors the milk in the much too tiny cup for the task at hand and Little Man empties it into the bowl, mommy again refills the cup and Brendan empties, refill and empty, refill and empty, refill and empty for a total of 8 times. "Thanks Ma-ma, I can stir now all by myself."

Mommy continues cooking dinner as every few seconds a piece of the following comes out of her mouth as Brendan continues to work proudly on his dessert and only responds with devilish grins, "Brendan.... No.... Stop that.... Please do not lick your fingers and stick them back in the bowl.... Brendan..... Brendan..... Don't lick the spoon.... Ok it is stirred enough, you did a great job. Now please wash your hands before you touch anything."

Brendan washes his hands and goes to watch TV with Daddy as Mommy finishes up dinner. Brendan and Daddy are enjoying a show and having a very deep conversation as Brendan snuggles in his Daddy's lap.
"Brendan, I love you."
"I love you too Daddy."
"You know you can always talk to Daddy. Right?
"Yeah, Daddy, I know."
"And if you ever have any problem, you can always talk to me about it."
"Yeah."
"And we can try to find an answer together. Like a team."
"Yeah, I know."
BIG LOVING HUG occurs followed by a few seconds of silence. Brendan looks up at Daddy with a calm seriousness that I have only seen on the most rare occasions.
"Daddy, I have a problem."
"What's that, buddy?"
"You're squeezing me too tight."

After lots of laughs. The Johnson family sits down for dinner, a small argument breaks out over who will say the blessing and then everyone enjoys green beans, baked beans, mac-n-cheese and pork ribs while saving just enough room for the famous Brendan pudding chilled to perfection.