putting the boy to work

It cannot be said enough, this thing about three-year-olds liking to do household chores.

I wanted to get the kitchen cleaned up (weird, I know, and rare – ask Scott). I could not convince Jonah to go play with toys and leave me to it.

So, I set up a kid-size wash station as follows:

Towel on floor. Bucket (square, low-sided) filled 2″ deep with warm soapy water on top of towel. Pile of “dirty” (i.e.: used, but not too dirty – keeping expectations in line with skill level of staff) dishes and silverware next to said bucket. Second bucket (rectangular, high-sided/deep) of clean warm water. Pink sponge, per color preference of staff. Extra towel.

Notes: Child will completely soak himself in process. This is to be expected. Child will ignore exhortations to keep dishes in bucket while cleaning. Enjoy bonus floor-mopping that ensues when child uses second towel to wipe up slop. Possibly keep back some dishes as child may surprisingly request more. And more. And more. Consider offering clean dishes to keep him occupied.

At end, rinse “washed” dishes in hot water (re-soaping as needed). And pat self on back.

Currently he is digging through the clean laundry, looking for his favorite Thomas shirt. Why is it that no matter how many great clothes a kid has, there is always ONE FREAKING SHIRT that has to be worn ALL THE TIME? Last go-round it was his orange race car shirt (waffle cotton, hoodie); still a favorite. But the Thomas shirt? Oy.

Speaking of which, we’ve misplaced his 2010 Day out with Thomas hat. What is it with me and hats??? Shoot me now. Have sent desperate email to Ticketweb, hoping they have last year’s hats in a bin somewhere.

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File under: Facebook Ruins Blogging

Here is the post I wrote on FB about our outing to see the migrating monarchs at Ardenwood Farm on Friday:

Preschool butterfly migration field trip: 1.25 hours reading books and eating pancakes at preschool, 35 minutes driving to farm, 1.25 hours running around farm, looking at animals (sheep, cow, horses, peacocks) and equipment (tractors, corn milling) – including 10 minutes loud screaming inside echo-y windmill – then 45 minutes eating lunch and running around in knee-deep wet grass. 15 minutes actually looking at approximately 10 monarch butterflies (stated purpose of field trip), 20 minutes going potty and getting preschoolers out the gate to cars, 35 minutes driving back = one tired mommy.

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Funny how the one form doesn’t feel right inside the other. FB-speak vs. blog voice. Oh well. I’d expand, but I’m needed in the laundry pile.