Monday, August 18, 2008

Max MacGyver

Remember how Max likes to pretend that his toy cars are garbage cans?
Do you also remember how we've been taking away his cars every time he has an "accident" and I need to wash his underwear?

Due to the frequency and severity of the recent "accidents" Max has been without his cars for quite a while.

A few days ago, I heard the unmistakable sound of Max impersonating the garbage truck. I knew I had put his cars away, so I went to investigate.

Max was sitting in the middle of the living room floor with his cars lined up in a row. He was using the biggest car as a garbage truck, and emptying the "garbage cans" into the truck.

"Max!" I said "How did you get your cars??"

It was then that I realized that instead of being smart and putting the storage box full of his cars in it's special "time out" spot in the top of his closet, I had been very lazy and just stuffed it under the living room couch. (Yes, I have learned something from this experience)

I then put Max's cars away where they should have been in the first place.

Max cried.

And cried.

And cried..............

I reminded him that all he needed to do to get the cars back was to poop IN THE POTTY, and NOT in his underwear.

The next day, I again heard the unmistakable sound of Max's version of the garbage truck, this time coming from his room.
When I went in to investigate, (because I knew that there was no way that he could have reached the cars on the top shelf in his closet) I found him sitting on his bedroom floor with his milk lid collection (yes, he collects milk lids......)

He had the milk lids lined up in a row, and he was using the chocolate milk lid as the garbage truck.

I took the milk lids away.

Because I'm mean.

(Hey! He still hadn't pooped in the potty!)

Max just looked at me like I was nuts, and walked out of the room.

A few hours later, I heard those darned garbage truck noises again.
This time, he's got his shoes lined up as the garbage cans, and one of his church shoes is being used as the garbage truck.

I get down on the floor with him and ask "Max, if I take your shoes away from you, then what will you use to play garbage truck?"
Max looked at me very thoughtfully and said:

"My underwear!!"

Which I thought to be rather appropriate considering all the "garbage" that his underwear has been full of this week.

I've decided that I just can't win this one.

I'm very happy to report that last night, Max did what was required of him, and is now happily playing with his cars.

(I gave him back his milk lids also)

13 comments:

Randi said...

I don't know, taking away the milk lids sounds kinda harsh. ;)

But with such a creative kid, what are you going to do, right? At least you're probably good for Christmas presents. A pkg of underwear and a box of milk lids and Santa Claus will be man of the year!

Kristina P. said...

Your kid is hilarious! This post made me laugh. I don't even know what he looks like, but I can just picture this precocious little 3 year-old playing with milk lids and shoes, and grinning, knowing that he beat his mean mommy. :)

Tenise said...

That's so funny! What a smart kid!

MamaHen Em said...

He really is a clever child, isn't he? This soooo reminds me of when my chickie girl was little and would NOT clean up her toys. Now, she has an incredible pony obsession and my taking away the little ones she would not pick up was not enough. In the end, I took away: the little ponies, the big ponies, the stuffed ponies, the pony pictures on her wall, the pony clock and the pony bedding. Sigh. I can feel your pain on this one! Good for you for making a point and in the end, it all came out well!

Hey It's Di said...

Oh thank goodness! I was worried that the poor kids imagination would take him through every object in the house! He sounds creative like that. Who needs toys when you have milk lids or shoes?

Bonnie the Boss said...

You big meanie! I love it. His underwear! Boys are great for a laugh after the fact, not so much at the time. When do your kids go back to school?

Jen said...

You are a great mom. Max gets his wit and creativity from you. I'm sorry that it works against you sometimes.

Jo said...

You have to get up EARLY in the morning to get the best of Max. Happy pooping!

Unknown said...

I have never heard of a mom having such a hard time potty treining!!! That Max sure makes me smile -- even if he drives you a little crazy :)

M said...

I expect you to get a call from the CIA very soon; they need creative and resourceful people like Max.

I'm starting to wonder though if there isn't something about the name Max. We have friends here who have a son named Max and he is "the pepper of their lives."

Anonymous said...

This is totally, utterly, extremely hilarious! Max is a VERY INTELLIGENT kid. He will surprise the WORLD, instead of just his MOM, years from now with the perfect solution for, well, whatever. Maybe the perfect garbage collection schedule? The perfect toilet training schedule for toddlers? Or something totally, utterly, extremely exciting and wonderful ELSE. You all hold onto your seats! We will hear of Max in the future!

Camille said...

Oh man, I love it! My Brielle carries around my shoes sometimes pretending they are her babies. I don't know why when there are like 7 baby dolls sitting right next to her. I love Max's imagination!

Jessica G. said...

And the irony is I nearly wet myself while laughing at this! Oh the joys of pregnancy...