Take the Money & Leave us Alone

Mike had been at the Klondike with the scouts and was airing out his gear in the toy room. So naturally the kids wanted to sleep in the tent. I thought a good mom would let them and I was too tired to fight the "getting emotional children to bed" ritual. I thought, "If sleeping in the tent sounds fun, then they will right to bed (I did not say sleep, just bed)." Off they went.

A few minutes later Gretchen returned. Here is what we discussed:

Gretchen was concerned that a robber would come. I explained that we had nothing that a robber wanted. She explained that we had DSIs. I told her that robbers were looking for big expensive things and money, and that if one came to our house the joke would be on them. The money part caught her attention. She was worried that they would come for our money. I explained that we didn't actually have any money and asked if she did. She told me that she didn't but that dad had some on his dresser, and thought the robbers might come to get that.

I thought quickly and was even a little tickled with myself for having such a good solution. I told her to get that money from Dad's dresser and meet me in the kitchen. We took a zip-lock bag and zipped the coins safely into it. Gretchen wrote "ROBBERS" on it and we taped it to the door. I told her that if any robbers did come, they would take the money and leave. She was delighted with the plan and went right down to bed.

The next morning she told me about the additional precautions she had taken to insure her safety. She slept right next to Gracie, cause that was the safest place, and she slept at the back of the tent. (I guess she figured that if the robbers needed something more they would take Jake).