The other day I was busy cleaning the kitchen and getting dinner made. I had my phone propped up on the recipe holder facetiming with my sister Jamie, Mommy2Bubba, when Noah called from the playroom, “Hey Mommy, come look!” I dried my hands, stirred the hamburger helper bubbling on the stove top and grabbed the phone to go see what he had to show me.
I turned the corner and my jaw dropped. I slowly turned the phone around so she could see too. I could feel the bubbles of laughter start to float to the surface. I mean really, what else can you do? Sometimes you just have to laugh. Except not in front of them! That’s the worst thing you can do!
Biting my lips until they started to hurt, I stammered, “I am going upstairs to get Bryce a new diaper and when I get back we are going to talk about what you have done here.” I turned the phone back around as I headed up the stairs and stifled more laughter at the expression on Jamie’s face.
It stayed like this for a few days. We’ve been busy and I was NOT going to clean it up for him. The only rule in the interim has been that he is not allowed to play in the playroom or get any toys out of it.
Today I finally had some time to spare so I sat on the couch and worked on this Content Brew course, which I am LOVING, from Blog Clarity and made him clean it all up. We set up the boxes and I directed him as to which toys went in which box. It went a little something like this.
Me: I want you to pick up all the cars and put them in this green box.
Him: Which green box?
Me: The green box right by your foot.
Him: Oh. Which cars?
Me: All the cars.
Him: Where?
Me: Everywhere! (Deep breathe) For starters, there is a green car and a red car right next to you by the train table.
Him: This? (Picks up green car)
Me: Yes, now pick up the red car.
Him: Where?
Me: Right there on the floor.
Him: This? (Picks up a red plastic flag)
Me: Seriously? No, the huge red car right there. (Jabbing my finger in the vicinity of the car)
Him: Where?
Me: Right by your foot!!
Him: Where?
Me: OMG!!! The big plastic red car with black wheels right next to you!!!!!
Him: Oh here! (Drops the green car and picks up the red car)
Me: Yes, thank you! Now, pick the green car back up.
Him: Where?
And that is when my head exploded.
Do you have a hard time getting your child to clean up after themselves? Any tips you can pass along??