Mother's Helper

I was working in the kitchen today trying to get dishes done, make lunch, feed kids, and put everyone down for a nap so I could get a much-needed nap. Pretty was right there wanting to help me too. She loves to be a helper, especially in the kitchen.

When Little Guy needs a change, she brings me a diaper. If he cries, she brings me a binky. When I put dishes away, she's right there helping pull them from the washer to put them into the cabinets. (Her favorite is the silverware). She helps put toys away, picks up trash, and gets a thrill from being given a paper towel and a spray bottle. She's probably the best window washer I've ever met.

Pretty couldn't resist talking about every detail of what I was doing. Before I knew it, she'd pulled up a chair and was standing right beside me at the sink. I was shelling hard boiled eggs for egg salad. She watched me, and mimicked my every move. Carefully, she tapped her egg on the edge of the sink and then peeled the egg while holding it under the running water. She checked for little slivers of shell on her egg, rinsed again, and then proudly put her egg in with the others.

After they were all peeled, I let her try the egg masher. Oh! That was exciting. She giggled as she mushed up each egg carefully. We won't even talk about the sheer delight that came with being able to squeeze the mayonnaise and mustard bottles. Mixing was apparently a real thrill, too. Finally, she got to enjoy a sandwich made with her own two sweet little hands.

As much as she sometimes drives me nuts, I'm so glad to have my very own little mother's helper. I can't think of anyone I'd rather spend time scrubbing toilets with.