BAD MOM award goes to... well, me. Who did you think I was going to say? It goes to me, yours truly, because today, under my supervision, Nicholas put his hand on the stove burner and burned his little fingertips. The screaming and wailing and tears and pain are evidence that I suck.

I was actually doing a good job at being "MOM" today. I unloaded the dishwasher. We went to Wal-Mart and did not purchase any bribe toys. We managed to leave the place without a tantrum. We played outside in the dirt. Then I took Nick inside where he helped me make Macaroni and cheese.

And there you go.

I said "Nick, please put on the water to boil while I change Nathan's diaper!" Just kidding. I boiled the water and we danced to The Wiggles, even though I can recite the entire album from memory and in my sleep... We played quite happily. When the pasta was done I turned off the burner. I drained the pasta. I put it back in the pot. I let Nick put in the butter and the orange cheese powder. He helped me mix it. Then I spooned in into bowls. I put Nick on the floor and said "come on over to your chair!" I walked over to the table and put down the pasta. And then Nick screamed.

I thought at first he was mad because I took the pasta away. He had climbed back on the step stool and was shaking and crying... then I thought he had hurt himself somehow with my can of Fresca... I mean, he really must have REACHED to get to that burner. It took EFFORT on his part. I don't know what he was trying to do.

All I know is that little white blisters are covering his fingertips. I know he cried for a whole hour and wouldn't eat the stupid mac & cheese. I had to sing him to sleep, which I haven't done since he was 6 months old. He's better now - he's using his hand. He peeled off the Shrek band-aids I put on for him. And he didn't even fuss in the tub. But I can't help wondering how much worse it could have been, and why I didn't stop it from happening...

By the way, this is a picture of Nick hugging his brother. It's one of my all time favorites.