Sometimes it is best not to complain.

This morning, Tripp was complaining about brushing his teeth.

Nothing new there.

We were running late.
We had to go get Mallie.
Eli tells me, "Me and Emma are gonna go get in the van, OK?"
So I say, "Eli, don't forget her coat."
He says, "OK."

And they are gone.

Teeth get brushed.
We get in the van.

We go get Mallie.
I take Eli to school.
He gets out.
I take Mallie and Emma to school next.

As they start to get out, I notice Emma does NOT have a coat on. She is putting a hoodie on from the trunk - a hoodie that is lightweight, that I keep extra for ballgames when the wind is blowing.

I was just so mad at Eli, I couldn't see straight.

I took Tripp to school next. Dave pulled up in front of me. I told him that I was going to Eli's school to tell him that because of him, I have to go back home, get Emma's coat, and take it back to her school. She cannot be without a coat.

And I did. Eli had no excuse.

Then, I went back to the house to get Emma's coat.

I walked into the house and there was a burning smell. I checked the coffee pot. It was turned off. Emma's coat was not in the usual coat place. So I walked thru the house, checking for her coat. And the burn smell got worse.

In the living room, up against the heater, was the Disney Princess Chair. Burning. Smoking. Stinking.

IF Eli hadn't forgot Emma's coat, IF he would have actually listened, well, our house would have burned down.

I picked the chair up, and took it outside. The plastic on the seams stuck to my fingers.

I guess that today I am thankful for Eli's goofiness and his thirteen year old hard-of-hearing issues.