A means to the end….no matter how silly you look while getting there.

In July of 1996, we were living in Phoenix and our Lo just turned 3 years old.

Isn't that just the funnest age ever?

My Mom flew in for a few days from Atlanta for a visit.

Mom took Lauren to the mall for shopping and girl time.

They headed out for the day and returned several hours later.

When I asked how everything went, Mom replied: "We had a good time…"

and then under her breath she said ever so discreetly:

“Lauren kept swallowing the gum I was giving her."

ME: ??? You gave her gum?

YOU gave her More than one piece OF GUM?

I am sure I rolled my eyes at her and called her a lunatic as well…that is how we roll.

I had never given her gum…because I KNEW, well, I just KNEW.

Yes Mom, I know you are a GRANDMA and Grandma’s have their own set of rules.

Anyhoo..

That evening, all of us are sitting at the dinner table having a nice meal.

We noticed that Lo was getting kind of squirmy.

Well, she was always a wiggle worm, but she was acting as though she was uncomfortable.

She was picking at her food.

She was wiggling.

Picking.

Wiggling.

squirming.

wiggling.

squirming.

She was acting weird.

wiggling.

squirming.

Picking.

She put her fork down.

She continued on with the squirming, but never said a word.

After a several minutes of this, she finally got up from the table.

I asked her what was wrong and she said: “nuttin”

She then proceeded to do the weirdest thing I have ever seen her do.

She got down on the kitchen floor…and laid on her belly.

She then reached both of her arms back and grabbed her ankles.

(are you picturing this? at this moment I am visioning some sort of yoga future)

So she has her ankles in her hands…and she starts rocking back and forth..on her tummy!

We stare at her…we make questionable faces to each other and then stare back at her again.

We were all thinking: WHAT THE HE…..

and then we **hear** it.

She let out a generously loud f*rt.

We busted out laughing.

She just smiled, got up and went back to eating her dinner… like this is how everyone gets rid of unwanted gas.

Doesn’t it take 7 years to pass a piece of gum?

Surely, it is out of her system by now… there is still a bit of gas passing in this house…only no one ever gets on the floor to do it!!!!