When it rains...

...everything breaks at once.

Our DVD player died recently. It really wasn't a surprise, as we have several small children who like to push buttons. I had not moved it out of reach as I was trying to teach them that there were some things that you just need to leave alone.

This was my first mistake.

Ben A child who shall remain nameless decided to load his own movie in the DVD player, unaware of the fact that the DVD could not actually sit crooked and stick out of the front of the tray before you shove the tray in by sheer force. I know, it's a shock that it jammed.

Yesterday I dis-assembled the DVD player in hopes that I would be able to un-jam the thing and salvage it. Nineteen screws lined up oh-so-carefully-so-that-I-would-remember-where-they-came-out-of later, I discovered the little motor that pushes the gears to open the tray was missing it's little gear, and there was a little pile of shredded plastic beneath it.

Rest In Peace, little DVD player. I'm sorry your life was cut short at the hands of Ben the children.

While all this was going on, the kids were watching Lilo and Stitch on the VCR. Yes, we still have a VCR. And a record player. And an 8-track. We're not technology people, ok? Anywhoo, not ten minutes after the fate of the DVD player was sealed, I heard, "MooooOOOOOOMMMM!" It's not working!" I went into the living room to find all the kids lined up on the couch, staring at a black screen.

Fan-freakin-tastic.

I messed around with some things, checking wires, plugging and un-plugging, trying to revive my precious eleven year-old VCR. Meanwhile, I was being assisted by the oh-so-helpful five-year-old who was chirping at me from the couch.

"Mom, it can't work cuz there are wires sticking out. Fix the wires!" "Those are from the DVD player. They have nothing to do with this."

"Mom, try pushing that little button right there. I know it will work." "The record button? With your movie in there? Trust me, that's not going to have the result you want."

"Mom, it's not working. That didn't work, it's still black. Nope, that didn't work either. You are not fixing it at all. Not that one. Nope, still not working. Wow, Mom, you really suck at fixing things."

OK, that last part may not have been exactly what she said. It's hard to remember from yesterday.

With the wonderful support I was receiving, I decided to give up and try to fix it at naptime today. You know, when I'm alone.

Wish me luck, I cannot handle living without movies so that I can rely on the TV to entertain the kids while I shower.