So yesterday was St. Patrick's Day...in case you hadn't realized. Around here, the day progressed pretty much the same as usual.
This included the conversation - that I have had, I might add, with Ephraim for the last few weeks day in and day out - after he finished his breakfast:
me: "Ephraim, please put your dirty dishes on the counter".
Ephraim: "But I never have to do that".
me: "Well, today would be a good day to start, don't you think?"
Ephraim: "No. It's too hard." (with his voice becoming increasingly whiney)
me: "It really isn't too hard. You may not leave the kitchen until the dishes are put away on the counter."
Ephraim: "But Mommy it's the girl's job!"
me: "Who made the mess Ephraim?"
Ephraim: "Not me." (as he averts any sort of eye contact whatsoever)
me: "Ephraim, please put your dirty dishes on the counter."
Ephraim: "Pffft."
Before we had the conversation, I took a look at that cereal bowl and realized that there will soon be a time when I won't be standing in the kitchen with my coffee in my hand having a conversation about dishes with Ephraim. Pretty soon he will be going to school full time with the girls. And pretty soon I will be off to work in the morning.
It is just a green bowl on a make-shift table. But it represents the end of a phase and the beginning of a phase. Who would have thought a simple conversation could be so profound?
And it did end up on the counter after all...
This included the conversation - that I have had, I might add, with Ephraim for the last few weeks day in and day out - after he finished his breakfast:
me: "Ephraim, please put your dirty dishes on the counter".
Ephraim: "But I never have to do that".
me: "Well, today would be a good day to start, don't you think?"
Ephraim: "No. It's too hard." (with his voice becoming increasingly whiney)
me: "It really isn't too hard. You may not leave the kitchen until the dishes are put away on the counter."
Ephraim: "But Mommy it's the girl's job!"
me: "Who made the mess Ephraim?"
Ephraim: "Not me." (as he averts any sort of eye contact whatsoever)
me: "Ephraim, please put your dirty dishes on the counter."
Ephraim: "Pffft."
Before we had the conversation, I took a look at that cereal bowl and realized that there will soon be a time when I won't be standing in the kitchen with my coffee in my hand having a conversation about dishes with Ephraim. Pretty soon he will be going to school full time with the girls. And pretty soon I will be off to work in the morning.
It is just a green bowl on a make-shift table. But it represents the end of a phase and the beginning of a phase. Who would have thought a simple conversation could be so profound?
And it did end up on the counter after all...
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