When children's games go wrong

Good God, no, Simon did not say to do that.

All the nieces and nephews gathered today, and, as kids that age tend to do, they went crazycrazycrazy. When a bunch of kids get together and hyper, it's fun watching the grown-ups try to figure out which of the things that the kids shouldn't be doing they're actually going to try to stop them from doing. They want to pound on the coffee table with wooden spoons and spatulas? Sure. They want to tackle each other then pile on top of one another? I'm sure they won't hurt each other too much. Even though there were a few times when I expected to see them walking around, chanting "Kill the pig!" I had a great time watching the madness.

However, when the tackling and wrestling got to be a bit much and the adults needed a little peace and quiet, I decided to play some Simon says. That worked for a few minutes. Until Simon said to give each other a big hug. Did I mention that a big hug is what had led to the tackling and wrestling in the first place? What was Simon thinking? 'OK kids. Now I want you to stop playing that game where you pretend like you're hugging when you're really trying to knock each other over. Instead, let's play this other game in which I tell you to hug.' Brilliant. It may be the first time in history when Simon has actually lost a game of Simon says.

I'm grateful for Wendy's salads (20).