Silence Is Not Always Golden.

On most late afternoons, I arm A. with crayons and paper and sit her in her high chair.  Then, I go into the kitchen and unload the dishwasher or ready a few things for dinner.  This particular time, dare I, this mama gave A. a pen (I've done it before; it never seemed to be a problem) and a pad of paper for drawing.

And there was a long silence.  I should have known better.  Instead, I took this silence to mean A. was happily drawing (as she usually does) on her paper.  And so I not only emptied the dishwasher, but I made a salad.

Re-enter dining area. Discover A with pen all over her arms, clad in her "ROCK LOUD" t-shirt, emblazoned with a set of drums, looking like a heavy metal rocker with a fresh set of tattoos. 

And hence silence is not always golden.  In fact, as most of us know, there is such a thing as too quiet when you have children.  And, yes, this was a reminder that there isn't always time for a tossed salad and, rather, there's always time to make sure your child is not coloring on his or herself.

Thankfully, pen washes off quite easily with a little warm water and dish soap.  And, thankfully, A. was so dismayed herself with her graffiti that she happily obliged my arm-washing directives.