Blogger at Late Enough
My children put away their laundry. No seriously, I have a system.
Each kid has a clean laundry basket that they fill with their clean clothing from the dryer.
We got fancy baskets at our baby shower. I don't think fancy motivates them. I think NO TV or I CAN DO IT MYSELF does.
We drag them over to their bureaus, which I chose for their kid-height, and each item — underwear, socks shirts, shorts — have a color-coded drawer so my kids have been able to put away their own clothing since age 2 except for the very few things that we hang in the closet.
These are from IKEA. We almost didn't have enough room to bring home our kids. TOTALLY WORTH IT THOUGH.
I WIN PARENTING. The award and book deal is in the mail. Well, until this month…
Me: Before we watch television, I need you guys to put away your laundry.
Out of nowhere my 5-year-old son, E, clutches his midsection and yells: OOH, MY STOMACH! MAMA!
Me: Oh my gosh, are you okay? What hurts?
E: It's my stomach. I think I need food or somthing.
My suspiciousness kicks out my maternal-ness.
Me: Can you point to where it hurts?
E points above his belly button then lays on me like he's dead.
Me: Hmm, could this pain be related to doing laundry?
E: It really hurts, Mama.
Well, now I feel guilty and spend the next few minutes rubbing his belly and worrying.
That is until my daughter runs by us, and E is distracted into playing with exuberance.
Me: Your stomach feels better?
E: Not well enough to put away laundry. You’ll have to do it yourself, Mama. Thank you so much for putting away my laundry!
And he runs out of the room.
I need a color-coded basket for craftiness and not the kind that wins Pinterest and parenting admiration.
PS. If anyone wonders if I put away sneaky E's laundry, the answer is no plus much laughter. This kids has no idea who he's dealing with as long as he never reads my teenage diary although it sucks that I can only blame myself for his evil genius. {sigh}
