I used to love the tranquil music of a thunderstorm. Soooooo soothing. Sooooo relaxing. Peaceful. Not so much last night.
A scared 3-year-old girl screaming for me at 1 am. No I did not sing rain drops on roses and whiskers on kittens. I was most certainly NOT thinking about my favorite things (beside dreaming of being back in the comfort of my own bed). As the rain smashed against her window and thunder shook the whole house, I laid next to her; half out of it; patting her back.
Each time it finally quieted down, another crash-bang-boom caused her cute little head of curls to bury into my chest. Then all the questions came.
I can (barely) keep up with all the questions during the day. Not so much at 1 am. You know the questions, right Mom? The ones that never have satisfactory answers. There is always another question to follow, no matter how well you thought you answered the question. How can we be so easily outsmarted by toddlers? I mean, really?
Riley: I’m scared, Mommy!
Me (aka, tired Mama): It’s okay honey. It will stop soon (hopeful praying going on here).
Riley: Where does God live?
Me (aka, tired Mama): In Heaven.
Riley: What does He think about thunder?
Me (aka, tired Mama): It makes Him smile.
Riley: Lightening makes those spiky things come out of the clouds, right, Mommy?
Me (aka, tired Mama): Yes.
Riley: What’s behind the clouds?
Me (aka, tired Mama): More clouds.
Riley: No Mommy!
Me (aka, tired Mama): No?
Riley: Rain is behind the clouds.
Me (aka, tired Mama): Oh, okay. See honey, the storm is stopping. The thunder is going away. See how it’s getting quieter.
Riley: Okay. How come I still hear it?
Me (aka, tired Mama): The thunder may still rumble a bit, but it is going away.
Riley: Is it hungry? Does it need to go look for food?
Me (aka, tired Mama): Sure. (I was in no place to explain the intricate details of precipitation and why thunder does not eat food. Image the questions it would prompt!)
This morning, (kind little girl that she is), Riley decided to let Mommy sleep in for keeping her awake during the night decided to wake up an hour early. Who needs sleep, anyways? Over breakfast, I asked her about the dreadful thunderstorm.
Me (aka, tired Mama): What did you think of the thunderstorm last night?
Riley: It was SO LOUD!!! I couldn’t even hear Daddy snoring!
That comment right there made my morning. Classic. Just classic. It prompted this interview:
(Please excuse the tired/groggy reporter doing the interview. I will never make fun of news reporters, ever again. Okay, well maybe a little.)
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