Slainte!
On St. Patrick's day, when The Child was in kindergarten, I showed up for my weekly volunteering gig right after recess. "Mama!" she exclaimed, "the leprechauns came!" She took me into the classroom, which was a mess...desks overturned, papers strewn about, green glitter everywhere. The leprechauns, it seems, had a tradition of mischief-making in the K and 1st grade classrooms.
Ever one to snag a good idea when I see one, I immediately instituted a similar tradition at home.
A few years ago, right before St. Paddy's day, I remarked to The Child that she'd be safe from the leprechauns because her room was such a mess that they wouldn't be bothered. "Why not?" she asked, stricken.
"Well, how would you know? Nothing they could do would be worse than this". Yes, of course she immediately cleaned her room. What would you do?
On Sunday night she looked around her room and said, "I guess I'm safe from the leprechauns".
I concurred.
"Maybe they'll clean it up?" She looked hopeful.
"Naw," said I. "That's not how they roll".
Yesterday morning she rose early and got her room cleaned and her bed made. She didn't say anything. Neither did I.
When I picked her up yesterday she asked, casually, "Did anything weird happen in the house today?"
"No. The Dog got very agitated at one point, but you know how he is. It was probably just the postman".
"Yeah," she agreed, grinning.
When we got home she immediately ran to her room. Her desk chair was on the ground and the laundry basket turned over, but otherwise her room was fine. But she found this letter:
Dear Child,
We came to play a prank on ye, but sure and after we saw how nice and clean your room was we didn't have the heart to do it. Even leprechauns know that it's hard for a teenager to keep her room clean and yours was so sparklin' and fine we just couln't bring outselves to do more'n to knock over a chair and your laundry basket. (That was Seamus' idea. The rest of us told him not to do it but he's a bad one, that Seamus is).
We hope you aren't too upset about the mess. The rest of us stole a brownie from yer ma's kitchen for ye. That was a prank on her and a reward for you. Hope you enjoy it, darlin' lass.
A Happy St. Patrick's Day to ye and yer family and we'll be lookin' forward to causin' some trouble in your room on next St. Paddy's Day!
Erin go bragh!
Liam and the other Leprechauns
As it turned out, I had to make a run to the market and when I returned my bedroom was in a shambles but there was this note:
Dear Laird of Kincavel, Lady Lorraine,
Sorry ta do this ta ya, lass, but since yer daughter's room was so clean we had to do some mischief. This is all Seamus' doing.
So hope ye aren't too made, my dear. But we did steal a juice for ye. Hope ye don't mind too much.
Liam and the other Leprechauns
I'll tell you, one of the perks of parenting is being able to facilitate magic, working in cahoots with Santa, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy and the leprechauns. But it's very, very fun when your kid gets to an age where they too play along with the magic making.
We had corned beef with boiled potatoes, sauteed cabbage with bacon, fresh soda bread with Irish butter and black and tans for dinner.
It was a fine St. Paddy's Day.
Ever one to snag a good idea when I see one, I immediately instituted a similar tradition at home.
A few years ago, right before St. Paddy's day, I remarked to The Child that she'd be safe from the leprechauns because her room was such a mess that they wouldn't be bothered. "Why not?" she asked, stricken.
"Well, how would you know? Nothing they could do would be worse than this". Yes, of course she immediately cleaned her room. What would you do?
On Sunday night she looked around her room and said, "I guess I'm safe from the leprechauns".
I concurred.
"Maybe they'll clean it up?" She looked hopeful.
"Naw," said I. "That's not how they roll".
Yesterday morning she rose early and got her room cleaned and her bed made. She didn't say anything. Neither did I.
When I picked her up yesterday she asked, casually, "Did anything weird happen in the house today?"
"No. The Dog got very agitated at one point, but you know how he is. It was probably just the postman".
"Yeah," she agreed, grinning.
When we got home she immediately ran to her room. Her desk chair was on the ground and the laundry basket turned over, but otherwise her room was fine. But she found this letter:
Dear Child,
We came to play a prank on ye, but sure and after we saw how nice and clean your room was we didn't have the heart to do it. Even leprechauns know that it's hard for a teenager to keep her room clean and yours was so sparklin' and fine we just couln't bring outselves to do more'n to knock over a chair and your laundry basket. (That was Seamus' idea. The rest of us told him not to do it but he's a bad one, that Seamus is).
We hope you aren't too upset about the mess. The rest of us stole a brownie from yer ma's kitchen for ye. That was a prank on her and a reward for you. Hope you enjoy it, darlin' lass.
A Happy St. Patrick's Day to ye and yer family and we'll be lookin' forward to causin' some trouble in your room on next St. Paddy's Day!
Erin go bragh!
Liam and the other Leprechauns
As it turned out, I had to make a run to the market and when I returned my bedroom was in a shambles but there was this note:
Dear Laird of Kincavel, Lady Lorraine,
Sorry ta do this ta ya, lass, but since yer daughter's room was so clean we had to do some mischief. This is all Seamus' doing.
So hope ye aren't too made, my dear. But we did steal a juice for ye. Hope ye don't mind too much.
Liam and the other Leprechauns
I'll tell you, one of the perks of parenting is being able to facilitate magic, working in cahoots with Santa, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy and the leprechauns. But it's very, very fun when your kid gets to an age where they too play along with the magic making.
We had corned beef with boiled potatoes, sauteed cabbage with bacon, fresh soda bread with Irish butter and black and tans for dinner.
It was a fine St. Paddy's Day.
Labels: festival day, The Child
cobbled together by Moi at 6:28 AM
13 Comments:
That is about the most darling thing I've read in a long time. Love it. I just might steal that good idea next year! Sounds like dinner was wonderful too.
Steal away, KA.
Awww. That is SO sweet! Someday, The Child will tell this story to her child and it'll become one of their favorites.
I had my first black and tan last week. Didn't like it. It's pretty but I like my Guinness and Bass separate.
That's my FAVORITE Irishy story of all time, and that includes all my Irish friends' stories.
(Well, except for Niall and Niall's - ya, two Niall's Best Joke of All Time which really has to be told by Irishy people. I'm sorry, but IT belongs in some Hall of Fame.)
It really is magic, to create a day that's rock solid fun.
We had a big ol' party last year, so this year, we skipped the food groups and went with color coding, which only requires Guinness and Bushmill's. And when I wanted a leettle bit of Orville Redenbocker, A. helped with 'pop of the mornin' to you.'
I love it... you are making such wonderful memories for "the child" and a tradition that she will carry on with "the grand-child"
That is so cute and she is definately sucking up your sense of humor. What a great Mom! Did they take all the brownie's and juice? I would love a bite.
Sometimes getting a senior citizen discount at the movies doesn't make being old better....I miss mothering/grandmothering and my family. I'm glad you had a good time and I way over ate for two days.
That's terrific, Lorraine! And what's also cool is that when The Child does play along, you're a good sport about it. :D
Ba Ha Ha Ha (Note no w)
Sssooo. What happened to the meanest mother in the world?
Thought we had a deal!!!!
Oh well, whats a flower child for these days, go ahead, stab away.
Oh whine.
Peace
:+}
How fun is that! :)
Sounds like the rainbow ends at Rainey's house.
Well we know who is her mother's daughter don't we?
A wonderful story.
you guys are tooo cool!
Wow, that is one of the most fun things I have ever heard of for St. Pats day. How fun it must be around your house..
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