Stuff Not Even a Mother Could Love.

Kids are often peculiar, coming pre-programmed with a variety of quirks to give us good reason to wonder. Sometimes about what's wrong with them. Which is mostly just that they're kids and kids are weird.
A a parent I find the majority of these traits comical and even endearing.
Some however I don't

My 3-year old for instance has a habit of saving up his saliva and then swishing it around his mouth and through his teeth like it's some kind of magical mouthwash. Maybe he just likes the sound it makes on the other side of his ears.

Usually I ignore it until it drives me mad and then I simply shout out his name providing zero context.

I'm sure he understands.

Wondering what tactics your kids use to make your skin crawl? Or maybe it's just me.

How To Stop An Ant Invasion

This past week we had the privilege of observing one of nature's strongest and most strategic creations unleash its fury upon our jar filled pantry. Here's what we discovered;

1. You can't just wipe them up and expect the assault to end.

2. Moving your honey to the middle of a tub of water is merely child's play for the ant.

3. Leaving the bodies of the dead on the trail doesn't deter them.

4. Ants eat the poison out of cheap traps and laugh.

5. Ants are as committed as kamikazes waging holy war.

What worked?

1. Patience. Discover the source. It may take some time as the ant will attempt to throw you off the trail utilizing decoys.

2. Boiling water. Once I discovered their main pipeline (outside the house) I proceeded to pour boiling water along their passage and into the general area of earth where I supposed the underground layer was positioned.

3. Max Attack. Ant traps from Lowe's placed at points I recognized as encampments inside the house. Usually along the baseboard and in corners.

It's important to remember to keep calm and stay focused. For the ant it's not just about the food but your sanity. Once you freak out it's too late. The ant has already won.