Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Downright Positive and Perky

Not being confined to the house for six days has brought about a new perspective. It's one of perkiness! And festivities! Well, okay, that's taking it too far, but I can say nice things. Want to see? I was somewhat inspired by my friend Aims' post about her girls growing up and how happy it made her and I have to agree. I know a lot of people who don't want their kids to grow up and want them to stay babies, but I am ALL ABOUT growth in the areas of "helping me" and "doing things for themselves so I don't have to". These categories being very formal and official, naturally.

Here's the part where I'm going to be positive. I'm not going to talk about how Pigpen can't sit properly in any piece of furniture or eat without dropping something on the floor or flinging milk. I'm not going to talk about how Piglet only puts clothes on backwards and sometimes forgets to wipe after pooping. I'm going to talk about all the things they CAN do to make my life easier than two years ago.

Pigpen can put his clothes in the hamper and his diaper in the Champ. He can clean up most of the messes he makes. He can put away the bibs and the rags when I fold laundry. When I empty the dishwasher, he puts away anything plastic and all the kid silverware. He can put on his shoes and bring us a book if we tell him the title. He can put on his buckles to his booster seat or car seat. He can "read" the right words on pages of a picture book. He can count to 12 and then say 13 about 8 times. He knows about half of his letters, his favorites being M for Mommy, E for Elmo, and G for Gator. He likes to sing Taio Cruz's "Dynamite" and requests Lady Gaga a lot. He can turn the TV on with the remote, as well as pause or fast forward a show.

Piglet can dress and undress himself and make his bed, both of which he is expected to do before he comes downstairs in the morning. He can clean up a room as well as I can, as he is very persnickety about things going in their correct places. He can let the dog in and and out as needed. He can listen attentively to chapter books, do jigsaw puzzles and build anything from Legos, Lincoln Logs, or his gear set. He can put away his laundry into the right drawers, and he folds all of the washcloths, rags, and pants from the laundry. He can take care of 98% of his own bathroom needs, and fix his own hair so that he looks exactly like my 62 year old father. He puts away the silverware when I empty the dishwasher and moves laundry from the dryer to the couch for me. Finally, and most impressively, he can sing all the lyrics to Miley Cyrus's Party in the USA.

He cannot, however, move his hips like yeah.

Reading back over that, my kids kind of sound like slaves. But I think they need to be properly trained. Otherwise, if I wait and try to teach them this stuff as teenagers, they'll tell me no. And we can't have that. Mama needs to sit more.

10 comments:

Lovey said...

They're better trained than my husband!! :)

Nicole said...

Also, think of what good husbands they'll make!

Pigs' Mom said...

If you ever break a bone (heaven forbid) you'll find out how much they can REALLY do. I believe that's when I found out you could cook :-D

Christy M said...

They do more than my teenager!  Ha!  Start them early and enjoy it while you can!   :)

liz@millerhousehold.com said...

You're making some future spouse very happy.

Pigs said...

.....and do laundry. And make coffee.

Pigs said...

Ha ha ha! Mine too, actually. Once men reach 30, I think they're untrainable.

Anonymous said...

Liz beat me to it ~ husband material in training, they are!

Kathleen said...

Bit of a lurker here (love your posts!).

What I really like about your list is that most of it includes practical life skills, not video games (especially in lieu of the study that was released today: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2376056,00.asp)!

mommybelle said...

Sounds like they are going to make GREAT husbands and fathers one day!  I've got two really cute girls I'll send their way when they get closer to 30 or 35 years.

I had such a hard time with Annabelle getting older, but it isn't so bad the second time around as I know each stage makes my life a little easier when it comes to the physical drain on me...as for the emotional drain, that is yet to be determined!  And, if I could keep them little, I would always rock them and sing them lullabies, but I'd never hear their beautiful and sweet voices sing full-versed songs.