Charlie's Rules for a Happy Life

(This afternoon I wasn't feeling all that well, so I tried to escape to my bed for a nap. Without direction, the natives started getting a little restless, and in desperation, I asked Elena to tell them all to write a paragraph about their plans for Lent. Somehow, through the muffle of the covers, the communication was faulty, and she instead asked them to write about how they should behave. Charlie woke me up to read his list to me, an act which should be added to his list in the future...NEVER wake up Mommy when she is sleeping...but you'll soon see why I was so quick to forgive my sweet little man.)

List of Rules that You Should Always Do, by Charlie, age 7

rule 1: Do not scream or yell.

rule 2: Do not kick or punch.

rule 3: Clean up after yourself.

rule 4: Never, never be mean.

rule 5: Be obedient.

rule 6: Be respectful.

rule 7: Do not run in the house.

rule 8: ("even though I always do this one," he grinned) Do not play with a ball in the house.

rule 9: Do not jump out the window.

rule 10: Do not jump out of a tree.

rule 11: Love your mom and dad.

rule 12: Be thankful for what you have.


I just had to record his words here because it is the only place that I never, or rarely, lose anything. My personal favorite is rule 9, although 11 and 12 are pretty high up there too. I'm fairly certain this kid is destined for greatness of a holy sort. In spite of his mother.