A family of list makers

I am a list maker. I live by my calendar (paper - not electronic) and an assortment of lists. I have daily TO DO lists, sometimes even weekly or monthly to do lists. I have house projects lists, Christmas lists, and shopping lists. You name it and I have probably listed it!

My mother is a list maker as well as my teenage daughter. It is part of who we are. We have a family joke/phrase which is the result of a shopping trip many years ago in Indianapolis. Several of us went to an Asian grocery. My mother really enjoys going to different types of groceries. Me, not so much. However, I accompanied her. She was intrigued with the unique items available and was browsing. The store owner attempted to help my mother. She had some questions for him. He shouted at us, in a very thick accent, "LIST! LIST! YOU NEED A LIST! YOU COME TO MY STORE YOU BRING A LIST!"

Well, given that we are list-type people, we appreciated his obvious passion. Years later we still shout at one another occasionally about needing a list - and always in a ridiculously exaggerated accent. What can I say, we amuse one another easily...

I now have discovered that our family's list obsession is not simply genetic. I believe that Marco is becoming a list person as well. This morning, before school, Marco presented me with a list. Not just any ordinary list. Oh, no, it was quite detailed. He had cut out small pieces of paper, drawn the item on the paper, glued each one onto a sheet of notebook paper, with food items on one side and beverages on the other. He presented the list to me and asked if I could please get these items at the grocery. I nearly fell off the couch in laughter. However, I did not laugh, but simply thanked him for the list and complimented his creative style.

I posted a photo below of the list. For clarification, and total enjoyment, I will describe the list.

*Mom is written on the top (he obviously expects me to go to the grocery)
*The list is titled "List of Foods"
*In the left-hand column he has drawn (and requested) grapes, oranges, bananas, watermelon, and blueberries
*In the right-hand column he has drawn bottled water, orange juice, tomato juice (yes, he drinks it), and grape juice

How funny is he? This is one of those items I will definitely pack away. I know we'll get a kick out of it when he is a teenager - and again when he is an adult.


The list


I woke up a bit on the grumpy side this morning. I'm so glad that I have kids who quickly remind me to get over my big-bad-grumpy self and enjoy life.

Now, I am off to the grocery...