For the past seven years, I’ve left the house before dinner for my night classes and didn’t get back until bedtime. I never really thought about the chaos that must have happened while my husband handled dinner, baths, and bedtime with our three kids he never complained, so I assumed it was smooth sailing. I finally saw his struggles.
Then the tables turned. One night a week, he had to attend continuing education classes, and I felt confident I could handle the evening routine myself. I quickly realize that it wasn’t easy. That particular night, it was a little chaotic my oldest, Dexter (11), was playing with his baby sister, Rebel (1), while gleefully pressing every noise button on her Little People toys. She shrieked with laughter, and the house was filled with joyful mayhem. Laughter and chaos felt everywhere. We start enjoying the moments .
I had music playing while I cooked spaghetti and garlic bread, and my middle daughter, Ruby (5), was focused on making a card she wanted to give to her teacher. None of this was unusual but usually, there’s another set of eyes keeping everything running smoothly, and that night, I didn’t have them.
We made it through dinner, baths, and packing bags for the next day. Ruby carefully tucked her card into her bag and reminded me it was for her teacher. I nodded, thinking nothing of it just another sweet, typical creation from my artistic little girl.
The next morning, as I sat down to my work emails, I received a text from the school director. At first, she was asking about a missing card, which confused me. I explained that Ruby had used one of my rainbow-themed stationary sheets from my desk. But then it hit me I realized Ruby might have grabbed the wrong card.
A friend’s birthday was coming up, and I remembered leaving a card out on my desk that had more adult wording on it. Sure enough, the director texted back with a screenshot: my five-year-old had accidentally written, “A best friend you can have sex with,” followed by, “How great is that?”
I turned red, even though no one else was home, and then I couldn’t stop laughing. I cried a little too, thinking about how Ruby’s innocent artwork had completely gone off the rails. I sent the image to a few friends and family members. Everyone agreed it was a hilarious, honest mistake, and it brightened their day once they understood.
Normally, I would have waited for my husband to come home to tell him, but in this case, I had to warn him his boss is married to the school director, and I knew the news would reach him quickly. When I went to drop something off at his job, I asked him to hop in the car for a minute. I explained the evening and showed him the text.
He stared at me, processing what he was seeing. And then, slowly, a small grin spread across his face. We both started laughing, unable to stop. I shouldn’t have been surprised this is Ruby we’re talking about. We even call her Ruby Wild because life with her has always been full of surprises.
I know that ten years from now, if I tell Ruby this story, she’ll probably feel embarrassed at first. But like her dad and me, she’ll eventually break into a grin and start laughing because this is just another unforgettable moment with our little whirlwind.
