His Good Streak

Preston is the child that confounds me more than any other. For one he is smarter than any child should be (and I have children who read at a third grade level in kindergarten). There is nothing he can't figure out a way to get on or in, take apart, put together, sort, etc, etc. He is also very calculating and knows exactly what he can do to push the envelope and get away with. Now some of you may think I'm exaggerating, after all, he's only three. However, I believe he is "Dennis the Menace" in the flesh, sweet and well meaning, but at times exasperating. The other day was a good example.

Let me give youa little background first. We live in a very nice suburban neighborhood. The neighborhood is only a couple of years old and with the exception of one couple, all the families in our cul-de-sac have young children. I am the only full-time stay at home mom. The others all work at least part time but are generally home by late afternoon when the kids get home from school.

The kids were all out in force on this particular day playing in the cul-de-sac and each others yards which is normal. I had to go back inside the house for something but was keeping an eye and ear on them through the open front door and windows. As I was heading back out I heard screaming and Jonas came running in yelling at the top of his lungs "Preston's naked in the cul-de-sac!!!" My first thought was that I misunderstood him. I mean, Preston had already gotten in trouble once that day for taking off his clothes then wandering out to the front porch. Alas, there was no misunderstanding my wonderful, young son was standing buck naked by the mailbox surveying the other kids as they screamed and the mothers laughed.

I reacted the way I think any mother would "Preston Scott Guffey (notice the use of the full name) get back here and get your clothes on right now!" His clothes were in a nice little pile right where he took them off, on the porch of course. He looked at me smiled as big as he could then took off sprinting to the other side of the street. So amidst the yelling and laughter I walked quickly and purposefully after him already so mortified that I decided Iwas not going to embarass myself further by trying to run in flipflops in front of all the neighbors. As soon as he reached the sidewalk on the other side he looked back to see how close I was and made a hard left to circle around the cul-de-sac thereby passing every single house and child on the way back to home where he would probably go hide behind the couch. Unfortunately for him he was having such a good time and laughing so hard I caught up with him when he passed the first house. I scooped him up and carried him under my arm and about made another neighbor wreck as she pulled up did a double take and burst out laughing.

What he was thinking I'll never know, but we certainly know how to give the neighbors something to talk about. I can't wait till we get the back yard fenced.