My little runaway, my run-run-run-run-runaway...

Yesterday A broke a Very Important Rule. He received a very expensive toy from Auntie Sux for his birthday and the Rule was: give it back to mommy when you're done playing with it and DO NOT take it apart because the (very small) pieces will get lost. Sure enough, while I was working on the computer he came down with the toy in pieces. And, of course, one major piece was lost (I should mention the toy is made out of Lego). Since he had about 100 Lego pieces on the floor of his room, I told him to clean up his room and look for the piece at the same time. He scooped all the Legos up into the bin but didn't find the missing piece. I told him to keep looking and I sort of poked around in the bin but didn't really see it and didn't really have time to dig around looking for it. Anyway, he couldn't find it and so the Consequence of Rule Breaking came down: I took away the entire Lego bin. He ran downstairs, crying and grabbed his backpack. Then he opened up the dress-up box and started throwing costumes all over the floor. "What are you doing? Put that stuff away! "I say. "I'm packing my suitcase and I'm leaving! I'm going to live in another house," says A. Still with tears streaming down his face he opens the fridge, takes out a few apples, finds his wallet and puts his few little quarters in it and continues packing. At this point, sad as he was, it was all I could do to not burst out laughing at his adorable patheticness. So instead I pointed out that it's really cold outside. His answer was to pack "2 coats." "Well, then, which house are you going to?" He thinks about that for a second and then declares, "I'm going to live outside in a sleeping bag!" "How will you get to school?" Again, more thought. "You'll have to come and tell me when it's school time and take me there." He really had a good plan going. I took his little face in my hands and it was just so sweet with those big brown eyes, long eyelashes with tiny teardrops clinging to them, his little eyebrows all furrowed in sadness and I suggested that we wait for W to come home from school and maybe he could find the missing piece. "So will you stay in our house until then?" Sad nods. W came home 10 minutes later and he found the piece in about 2 seconds. So the bag was unpacked, the Legos returned and all was well again. At least until next time he decides to run away. Hopefully it will be to college!

P.S. this morning W was asking him how he was going to watch TV out in his sleeping bag and A answered that he'd build one. W suggested he get a job and buy one and A agreed that was a good idea and his plan is to go work with Daddy since he already has "2 quarters so I only need a few more!" Too sweet!