The Right Tool for the Job

Tonight John was repeatedly trying to poke at Mary's face until I had to tell him not to touch her face at all. He was distressed and pointed to a booger in Mary's nose and said, "rice!" I explained, "No, John, that's not rice, it's a booger." He repeated "booger" somberly and I thought, oh great, now boogers are on his radar. So then John asked me to take the booger "off!" and I told him not to worry, it would fall out on his own. He insisted, "Mama, off!" I showed him that it wouldn't be easy to take off and not to worry.

Then John suggested I use nail clippers to remove the booger. I said no and he proceeded to suggest I use a screwdriver or a hammer. I had to squelch my smile lest he misinterpret that I was giving any approval. I told him it was a VERY BAD idea to use nail clippers, a screw driver, or a hammer on Mary's nose. I said that we only use soft tissue on noses and I showed him tissue.

And then I whisked Mary and her booger to another room so I could laugh in private.