This is why do we not hide Halloween candy in the closet...

[Kodeekins]

Mice. That's why.

Zomg. I just traumatized my son.

We're moving in about thirty days, so I opened up the utility closet down here in the basement we stay in and I pulled out the dishes and stuff I had stored down here from my big move across the country. What should I find tucked into the corner besides my sons Halloween candy. >.< It's March, people. March. I go to grab it and throw it discreetly in the trash bag at hand when - a ton of itty bitty paper scraps and chunks of candy and MICE POOP falls out.

I prompty drop the bag, back away from the closet, and say, "Oh, dear, there were mice in here. And dude, Gauge, why the heck is your Halloween candy in there?!"

So, I yank everything out of the closet, get out the vacuum, get ready to clean up the mess, and Gauge asks me if I speak Mice Language. I tell him no. He askes, well, how do they talk? I say they squeak to each other. He says "Maybe we can do that, and just tell them that they shouldn't do things like this, mommy." Awwww, so cute!! I tell him that's a great idea. Then I flip on the vacuum.

I'm going to work in there, happen to glance over my shoulder.. and my son is standing behind me clutching the book he had been holding, tears streaming down his face, sobs racking his body. I shut off the vacuum and grab him and ask what's wrong.

"I just didn't want it to be like that."

I realize in that instance he thought I was sucking up MICE into the vacuum. :-O He just stood there shaking his head and I'm racking my brain trying to figure out how to explain to my four year old son that ME, the person who would hold open a window and shoo out one fly (letting in fifteen more) would NEVER suck up mice. I show him the utility closet, tell him I would never ever hurt mice, I cuddle him, tell him I was just cleaning up their poopy and candy mess.. eventually he calms down but then I was in tears for upsetting him so badly. =(

Now he's giggling in bed with Trace. Perfectly happy. But those tears made me realize how sympathetic my son is and what a kind person he is. <3 such a smart boy.

Speaking of smart, he read me a whole book tonight! (Bears in the Night by Stan and Jan Berenstain)

**Note, the mouse problem was taken care of around Christmas, but apparently, they had at some point been in the closet. The mess was not fresh**

[CasandraFinlay]

Mar. 9, 2010 at 11:56 PM

What a sweet and kind-hearted kiddo you have :-) Much love!!

[Mom_to_Lincoln]

Mar. 10, 2010 at 12:26 PM

awww!! I just about cried reading this! sooo sweat!