"I'm running away!"

Don't worry this isn't my confession. I haven't grown tired of the wife and kids and decided to run away to the hills of North Carolina. No, this little phrase can most often be heard coming from the mouths of certain small boys in our household. Occasionally, Dylan, our eight year old threatens us with this statement, but most of the time it is Harper (5) and Harris (3) who make this proclamation. Sometimes together, sometimes alone. Usually one of them will say it and the other will follow suit. I'm not so sure it's an act of solidarity, as much as not wanting to be outdone by the other. Our kids seems to have a keen sense of dramatics so it can often be an entertaining exchange. The following clearly illustrate the dramatic and entertaining.

Recently, I was sitting on the front steps when Harris marched up to the bottom of the stairs and said those now famous words:

"I'm running away!"

(Just the day before, he had made the very same statement so I was somewhat doubting his intentions. Now, I am probably guilty of several parental mistakes by even engaging in a conversation with him, but what can I say, I enjoy a little drama too!)

"Harris, do we have to play this game again? Didn't we talk about this yesterday? You are three, you can't run away."

"Why not?"

"Because Harris, you can't take care of yourself, you won't have anywhere to live, you are afraid of the dark, and there are animals out there."

"Well, I am still running away!"

"Okay, well, be careful out there." (Harris starts to march down the driveway looking very determined.) "Oh, you might want to come back and say goodbye to your Mom before you leave."

"What?"

"You might want to say goodbye to your Mom first" (Harris stops and slowly turns around.)

"Okay, I will." (He starts walking back to the house still looking determined. As he gets closer, he walks a little slower and less sure of himself. By the time he gets to the bottom of the stairs he is crying.)

"What's the matter Harris?"

"I don't want to run away!!" (He then rushes up the stairs and wraps his arms around my neck.)

"Good, we don't want you to run away."

*Note: Since this exchanged, Harris has repeatedly threatened to run away, but thus far has not made it past the driveway.