I was sitting at my kitchen table working yesterday afternoon, trying to tie up the last few items before closing my laptop and going to get my kids when the doorbell rang. It was the <ding-dong><ding-dong><ding-dong> of repeated bell pushes used most frequently by the 7-years-old and under set.
So I wasn’t surprised to find the 6-year-old twins from four doors down the street hanging out on my porch. “We’ve come to see the puppy!” they announced in unison. Maybe a twin thing although these aren’t identical and I’m not sure if the twinning mind meld thing happens with all twins or if this was a fluke. But it was convincing enough that I held the door open wide to let them in, and we walked out to the yard.
I introduced them to the puppy and said, “I have to get back to work.” The more talkative one, Twin 1, said, “Okay, we’ll stay out here and play.”
And then the quieter one, Twin 2 said, “But do you have scissors to cut this tag off?” Pulling out a dog toy from her side.
Twin 1 interjected, “That toy is for our puppy!” And Twin 2 replied, “But Mom handed it to me on our way out.”
I said, “I have to get back to work.”
They said, “Okay.”
After a few minutes, they came in from the yard to where I was working and thought to ask, “Where are your kids?” I replied that they were at camp and school. Twin 2 said, “I’m hungry.”
I said, “Oh, I’m sorry. I have to get back to work and can’t make a snack right now but if you come back…”
Twin 2 said with a smile, “No problem, I can get the snack myself.”
Twin 1 said, “Where’s the cat?” I explained she was probably in my bedroom because she’s upset about the puppy. Twin 1 said, “Oh, I know where that is, I can go on my own” and left the room.
I felt myself shrugging my shoulders and smiling at this random interruption when I heard rustling noises from my pantry. Twin 2 reappeared with her cheeks full of food, and said, “You have good nuts.”
I said “thank you” and was still chuckling when the twins older sister appeared at the door and took them home.
No point to this – I just was thinking that maybe Dr. Seuss worked from home.
Where have you gotten your inspiration to write today? Any twins show up on your porch lately?
I’ve posted a companion piece on my personal blog that’s a little less silly about loving whoever shows up: Expansiveness.
I also post on Mondays at the Heart of the Matter blog, a great shared blog of personal storytelling. My book about my journey to find what fueled my dad’s indelible spark and twinkle can be found on Amazon: Finding My Father’s Faith.
You can find me on Instagram and Twitter @wynneleon
(featured photo from Pexels)
But there is a point! You loved whoever showed up. This is precious, Wynne!
Ah, you’ve made me smile, Crystal. Thank you!
Ah…too funny! I could picture every bit. Including your incredulous look as they navigated your house, your yard, your bedroom, your pantry. 😜 Even the demanding way in which they did the ‘ding-dong, ding-dong’. You knew even before you opened the door, didn’t you? Adventure awaited! And I bet Coop slept through every bit. The cat, too.
Hee, hee, I did know before I opened the door. I was tempted not to but it was pretty amusing so I bet I’ll continue to go through these adventures… 🙂
🥰❤️🥰
You might want to peak before opening the door next time just in case they have a trolley with suitcases, bedding, stuffies and a toy box… 😉
Ha, ha, ha. Good strategy, Deb! 🙂
I think its clear I don’t have kids. I was horrified by their behaviour
I can understand that too, Brenda. I’d say that it was largely my fault – I could have just told them to come back when my kids were home. 🙂
This is also true. But you’re going to be inundated with puppy admirers
They did strike me as confident 6 year olds
Yes, you’re right about the confidence, Brenda!
In two years these kid will be known to the FBI! You still have time to move.
Hilarious, Dr. Stein! When I get contacted by the FBI for background, I’ll blog about it. 🙂
I’m awestruck by your stance of amusement as the twins rummaged their way through your home. I’d probably be fighting off a wee fit of anger. Bless them though–their visit made for a great blog. Speaking of twins, I’m dining with my sororital twins (they’re girls—how could they be fraternal?) The sixes were fun, but the grown-up twins are much better! Chuckled my way through this one—I could envision every twinism.
I love your perspective on grown-up twins, Julia. I can imagine that they get better. I’m not sure I was patient as much as I was stunned. 🙂 And yes, bless them for giving me blog material. 🙂
I’m somewhat in awe and annoyed at kids with so much confidence. At their age, they don’t understand limits or boundaries. You’re a saint! I worked from home for my PR business. It lasted until my infant son became mobile. Invariably, I’d get a call from a client to rush to a meeting right after my babysitter left for the day.
That’s a good description of awe/annoyance, Elizabeth. It was pretty interesting to watch. I’m sure not a saint but I was stunned into just watching what happened next!
And yes, the client calls at the wrong time…I know all about that!! 🙂
😅
Delightfully hilarious!
Thank you, Pam! 🙂
You’ve got a heart of gold. My patience would certainly have been running out! Ha ha
You give me too much credit, Brian. I think I was too stunned to react much. 🙂
Also my patience would have been running out! It was instructive to read your calm reactions!
Maybe some part of my brain knew I could get a blog post out of it! 🙂 Thanks, Cristiana!
Patience is a virtue Wynne. You held yours well! 🙏
Thanks, AP2. I don’t get as much exercise in these years after having kids – except if you counting exercising my patience. I suspect you can relate! 🙂
Oh yes. Since having kids I’ve found a new respect for the virtue of patience. 🙏
“Maybe Dr. Seuss worked from home…” 🤣
Seems likely. Those twins sound adorable, and your flexibility is admirable!
Hee, hee. Thank you, David! Grateful you appreciated that punch line.
What a great story!! 😂 I love that you just allowed the adventure to unfold. Kids that age can be so clueless, which sometimes makes for great entertainment 😁
Thanks for coming along for the ride, Todd. Clueless – that’s a great word for it. Yes, it is good entertainment – and I got a blog post out of it… 🙂
😁👍😎
Ha ha. What a cute post! I haven’t had any twins drop by unexpectedly, although we will be meeting our niece’s new twins for the first time this weekend.
Oh and my brother-in-law still rings the doorbell multiple times…and he’s almost 60!
Oh, I’m laughing about your brother-in-law. That’s hilarious, Michelle! How wonderful that you get to meet your niece’s twins. Absolutely precious! Thanks for the great comment!
LOL, kids can be so random! When my daughter was young I’d have all the neighborhood kids stopping in to visit and once they discovered that I knew how to make homecooked oatmeal, that’s what they’d request, with brown sugar and milk. Cheapest snack around to feed a crowd and they kept coming back for more! I’d tape a long piece of brown Kraft paper to the wall and the kids would be happy for hours drawing. Fun memories!
Oh wow, Tamara – yours was the house to go to. I can totally understand why they kept coming back!
I think that unexpected encounters can often be the most inspiring.
Agreed!! Thanks for reading and commenting!
I am smiling from ear to ear. What a fun story to share and you are really cool, Wynne.
Thank you, Parisa. Truly, I was just along for the ride! 🙂
And that makes you the coolest lady in the neighbourhood, I guess. This could have been a screenplay manus 😃a fun one!
What a lovely story…and how awesome that the twins felt so comfortable in your home 💞💞💞
Thank you, Dawn!!