The Challenge

My four year old must have taken it as a challenge when I told him to stop licking things this afternoon. I get so annoyed with tongue prints on foggy car windows, furniture, baby things etc. Maybe his fascination with texture and taste, is a strong as my obsession with keeping him healthy and flu-free.

So this afternoon as I put on my jacket, I see his tongue on the closet door. "Don't lick that" I say as he runs outside. Grabbing the baby and diaper bag I slam the front door, only to hear one of those screams that fills a mother with dread. My son has licked the metal hand rail on the coldest day this winter. I tell him to stay still as I run for the hot water. He continues screaming at the top of his lungs until the water loosens his stuck tongue. Once freed, he runs into the house, still crying, and collapses on the living room floor leaving three bloody tongue prints on the light carpet. My poor little boy.

...One of those things we all do only once.