Harper House Rules

  The "car rider" line at my son's school is impossibly long. Due to the fact that Zoey's afternoon nap usually runs over into pick-up time, we are usually running impossibly late. It is usually a mad dash to the car and to the school, only to find we will be sitting there in line for at least 15 minutes anyway. So, on this particular day, I had run through the drive through at McDonald's to get her a snack before heading over to hurry up and wait.  She finished her food and was holding up her tiny little hands to be wiped off. Since we were just waiting, I thought it was a good moment to show her how to use a napkin. So I demonstrate how to do it, then hand it to her and she mimics perfectly. Great job Mom, right?? Well, hold on a minute...   This little girl of mine is VERY different from my son. She is 1 going on 13, I am certain of it.  She is a sweet little baby. She exudes so much personality that you would swear she drinks sunshine rather than milk. She is

  Today, my Dane lost his first tooth. It had been loose for a few weeks, and it has become a daily routine to check it for "wiggleablilty". We have had discussions about pulling it, how much it might be worth to the tooth fairy, and why you need new teeth in the first place...("but these teeth still chew fine, Mommy").   As I pulled up to the curb to pick him up from school, I could tell he was excited about something. There is an expression he has when he is up to something, and he had that look. His eyes twinkle, and he is half smiling while sticking his tongue in the corner of his mouth. Hey, it takes a lot of work to look that mischievous. He bounces out to the car, and jumps inside. And then he grins. Not a the little one he had on the curb a few seconds ago. This one is so big and bright it could power a small city. And that little wobbly tooth is now an empty space. He presses a little purple treasure chest in my hand and says, "Look! The nurse gave me

   My name is Cheri Harper. I am 32 years old, and live in a small town in Tennessee. I have been married to my husband Billy for almost 7 years, and have 2 children. My son Dane is 5, and Zoey just turned 1. I became a stay at home mom after Zoey was born.    I have always wanted to keep a journal, but never seem to get around to starting one. I thought it might be fun to put some of the thoughts that clunk around my head into words. Not because I am self important and think the world needs to hear all of my genius insights. No, it is just because. Because I think it might be fun to see who else out there is as nuts as I am.....