“Mom, I’m being responsible; I’m washing the dishes.”

Naomi was cleaning up from her cake baking without being asked, but wanted to at least make sure that I noticed.

Fair enough.

She had mixed that carrot cake after finding the recipe in my book and doing all the measuring and grating herself.  Bravo, you capable girl!

Naomi certainly IS competent, and independent.  Both the kids are, to be honest.  They get their own breakfasts, make their own lunches, walk to and from school, manage their personal hygiene.  They’re usually not big on clean-up, especially the voluntary type, which makes Naomi’s effort with the dishes even more impressive. 

Though sometimes I might feel that nothing gets done in the household apart from MOM doing it, OBJECTIVELY, the work load MUST have gotten less since they were babies.  No diapers to change or wash, no spoon feeding, no wiping snotty noses, no mid-night wake-ups.  That means that OBJECTIVELY, I must have more free hours in my week.  Probably I do have….not that I can figure out where they all go.

Or ELSE it could mean that my general productivity has gone down as I’ve gotten older…..which is also entirely possible. I call to mind a comment my father made some years ago, watching our active young toddlers. “There’s a reason you have babies when you’re young.”