Who knew dishwashing could be such fun?

Someday, I am sure, we will have to yell, threaten and impose punishment to get Sydney to wash the dishes and help around the house. But right now, during the current stage in her life, it's the other way around.

"Sydney, you've washed enough dishes. Turn off the water and get down."

Someday I will question, "Did I really have to say that?"

And the answer is yes. Sydney loves scrubbing dishes, and - now that she's big enough to drag the stool across the floor, climb up and turn on the water - I've caught her more than once trying to "help" clean the dishes.

Of course a big part of the fun is the flower-covered dish brush with pink bristles we bought at Pier One Imports a few weeks ago. Flowers make everything more exciting!

It wouldn't be so bad if she actually focused on scrubbing dishes. But Sydney's cleaning process goes something like this:

1. Turn on the water and let it run.
2. Squirt soap onto the scrub brush.
3. Run water over the scrub brush.
4. Lightly scrub the brush over the dish just long enough to see a transfer of bubbles.
5. Squirt more soap onto the scrub brush.
6. Scrub the sides of the sink.
7. Squirt more soap onto the scrub brush.
8. Repeat steps 3 through 7.

Probably wouldn't pass a health code inspection. Plus, it's a huge waste of water and soap. And I'm afraid she'll accidentally bump the faucet handle to hot and burn herself. Then she'd have a legitimate excuse as a teenager to be afraid of getting her hands wet.


Two-fisting it! She's got a scrub brush in each hand as she "cleans" the muffin pan.

I can't help but note the bizarreness of her new hobby. Over the weekend I baked banana/chocolate chip muffins. Most kids (AJ included) would be excited because this means homemade goodies and a chance to lick the beater. Not Sydney. She was more excited at the thought of the dishes to wash.

Someday I'll be sure to remind her of this. Not that I expect she'll believe me.