Let the rumpus begin!

I don’t know about your kiddos my dear mommy friend, but just like the character Max in the book “Where The Wild Things Are”, my boys tend to create a rumpus!

You know how it magically happens when you need to get something important done? Even a simple phone call without being interrupted can be impossible to accomplish at times.

I admit that in moments of desperation, I have hidden inside closets and bathrooms while having a phone conversation for the sheer sake of sanity.

“Mom! Mom! Are you in there?”

—— No, but she will be back soon! ——

One night the boys were, let’s just say, a tad out of control. My husband had been traveling for a couple of days due to his church ministry. I had 2% of patience left.

I gave the boys a bath while mentally convincing myself that raising my voice was not accomplishing progress. As I glanced over at the boys laughing and splashing in the tub, the image of Max appeared in my mind.

I remember how much I enjoyed this book as a little girl. I used to laugh at the things Max would say and do.  My favorite part was when Max escaped to his room and a forest grew that unlocked a grand adventure.

Children’s literature is an enormous passion of mine. My teaching style has always been to connect a book to a lesson. When choosing a book, I look for meaningful messages that are both relatable and powerful.

We all climbed on to my bed and I pulled out the book. My oldest volunteered to read.

I highly recommend having this classic treasure in your home library. The artwork is vividly captivating and it was awarded The Caldecott Medal.

They story is about a mischievous young boy named Max who wears a wolf suit. His mother calls him a “wild thing” and Max tells her “I’ll eat you up!” He then gets sent to his room without supper.

Max uses his imagination to escape. A forest grows and grows until “the walls become the world all around.” He then sails off in a boat until he comes to a place “where the wild things are.”

Max tames these wild things with a magic trick. They make him the king, have a big rumpus, then he sends them off to bed without supper.

He begins to feel lonely and wants “to be where someone loved him best of all.” He then sails back to his room where he finds his supper waiting for him and it’s still hot.

The boys would giggle with gleam in their eyes throughout the story. I absolutely love watching their expressions.

My oldest proclaimed, “I would never say, I’ll eat you up! That Max is pretty wild!”  My youngest would make comments like, “Wow! Those are nice monsters, look at their smile! I want to go play  and tame them too!” My youngest is a bit more mischievous.

My oldest suddenly leaned over and gave one of his bear hugs that I LOVE ever so much. He said, “Mom, we were wild tonight like Max. I am sorry.” Then Josh exclaimed, “Yes mommy! We were crazy like Max, but we love you!” Then he jumped on my back, placing his arms tightly around me. I just love those back hugs!

Tears filled my eyes and I too apologized for raising my voice and not being patient. I explained that moms and dads often forget we all had a little Max inside of us when we were children.

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