Good fun that's not so funny...

Anyone who knows the wonderful Dr Seuss book, 'The Cat in the Hat', will know the grand entrance the cat makes on that rainy day as he declares,

"I know it is wet

And the sun is not sunny.

But we can have

Lots of good fun that is funny!"

I did this painting of the cat when I was pregnant with my daughter in the first couple of days of my maternity leave when I knew that it would be a while before I would have time to myself again. It now hangs in our playroom and on those 'cold, cold wet days' (of which there are a few here in Denmark),  I remind myself that it does not have to be sunny for us to have fun. Sometimes though I make a silent wish that I'll hear a thump on the door and in will stroll an entertaining and mischievous cat that will let my children make the mess that we mothers are so afraid of and then efficiently tidy it all up again after!! (There must be a small business idea in there somewhere!!)

My daughter is very proud of herself for recognising the framed cat on the playroom wall as the fellow on the front of the book and she proudly totters into the room, pointing to the picture and back to the book. Today, however, she took her understanding to a new level and engaged in what can only be described as 'good fun that is funny' of the Dr Seuss kind that left me shaking in my shoes...

As I was getting ready in our bedroom and momentarily took my eyes off her, all went quiet. When she came into the room with her hands covered in orange ink, I became suspicious. She took me by the hand and led me out into the corridor - it was a bit like a scene from a suspenseful thriller: I felt compelled to look but didn't necessarily want to see.

'Where's the pen?', I asked.... She led me forward. 'Show mummy the pen!', I repeated, my voice quivering. 'There!' she said excitedly, pointing to the white walls and the white door of the bathroom. 'There', she exclaimed leading me into her bedroom and showing me the white armchair and the white window sill....

The orange scribblings left a trail of the fun she had had and so obviously thought I would be thrilled to see!! But like the cat in the hat, its difficult to be angry with one so adorable.