Whether or not we all would classify the current Iraq situation as a 'war,' we can certainly agree that there is no war here in Texas. No troops in Dallas, no bombs in Houston, no emergency sirens in Amarillo. And there are definitely no food shortages, although in my house you might think otherwise.
On at least 2 or 3 nights a week, the kids will start battling over a half-full bottle of water. "It's MINE!" the smaller one shrieks, ripping it out of his sister's hand. Water inevitably sprays everywhere, so then she cries "Stop! You're spilling it!" Whoever has possession of the bottle at that point will begin drinking, very leisurely, determined to prolong the moment; the non-drinker is naturally complaining the entire time: "He's using all of it! There won't be any left for me!"
I sigh, because we go through this every time. Be advised, we have in this house not one but two mini-refrigerators filled to the gills with (yes!) WATER. This means the children have easy access to refreshingly delicious cool spring water at any time. That's right---the mini-fridges are not under lock and key, and the kids don't have to ask permission to get water, it's an H2O free-for-all! Beyond the bottle, there are also 11 faucets with mineral-rich tap water on hand for the truly thirsty.
Tonight, they started a new food battle over their perceived rationing of POPCORN. Popcorn was delivered in a single large bowl, and the girl started eating it; the boy at that time wasn't apparently interested. Fifteen minutes and a third of a bowl later, the boy came to life and began screaming "She's eating too much! She's had too much!" Naturally a fistfight ensued, resulting in the popcorn being removed entirely; both kids started in then with the all-purpose complaint "It's not FAIR!"
I commented several times, "There's plenty of popcorn in this house, you don't have to act like it's the last bowl you'll ever see," but they weren't listening. Eventually the girl was convinced that yes, she had had about the right amount, and she agreed to let her brother have some. Delighted, he grabbed the bowl and ate about ten kernels before announcing, "She can have the rest."
I closed my eyes and thought Thank God. And then I heard him say... "Pass me that water bottle over there."