Rite of Passage

Being the oldest child is not an easy job. There are a lot of responsibilities that fall on your shoulders as you must help your younger siblings find their way in the world. You must teach them to fend for themselves. You must teach them to be tough in the face of adversity. When Ben was a child, he tied his little brother Mike up to chairs and gagged him with a dishtowel. He trapped him underneath laundry baskets while he sat on top and laughed. Mike turned out to be quite a great guy, so apparently all of Ben's diligence paid off in the end.

Abby, it seems, has determined that Isaac is ready to begin his training. The other night while I was making dinner, Abby excitedly asked me if she could use a pen, a post-it note, and a rubber band. I complied.

Poor Isaac thought they were playing hide-and-seek. He eagerly climbed inside the cupboard and waited patiently for someone to find him. 20 minutes later, the patient boy realized he was trapped.