dishes

“Boys, when you finish your dinner, the three of us are going to clean the kitchen.”

The boys looked at each other wide-eyed, looked back at me (lounged on the big chair in the living room only wishing I could call it a night), looked at each other again and shrugged.  They finished off their plates and carried the dishes to the sink and rinsed them.  Handsome continued in a comical tone as the three of the worker bees were diligent in knocking this task out quickly…

“Some dads take their boys fishing; some dads take their boys out camping.  In this house, this dad and his two men do DISHES!”

The two knights- in -training giggled at their daddy.   They knew what was going on.  They knew their mom had a hard night last night with their baby brother and she was in no mood to do dishes or clean.  In turn, I knew better than to think they actually ENJOYED it, but they played the part; trying their best not to argue or heave big sighs.  I overheard a few short temperaments towards each other.  However, Handsome- being the light hearted coach that he is- directed the boys to make this play a productive one.

I couldn’t help but look over and smile at the three of them.  It was truly unorganized chaos- each of them bringing their own method to the madness.  Man child (hates dirt and grease on his hands) used the brush to scrub the food and grease off of the dishes, pots and pans.

“Dude, that’s disgusting! Rinse that off better when you bring it to the sink.”

Endless Pit, my creative one, made the plates fit in perfect order in the dishwasher, making sure the washer blade could spin.

“Okay, REALLY?? That doesn’t fit! Put it the other way.  THE OTHER WAY! (gasp) DUDE!!!”

Handsome found a large brown sticky spot on the bar area.

“What the hell is THAT?  Nutella? Chocolate ice cream? Protein Shake?”  

He used the days’ stresses as ammo and scrubbed the dickens out of that spot… eyes bulging and hyperventilating while spraying the snot out of it with “industrial strength” 409.  I think he even growled a bit with a few choice words.

I was silently singing praises when he did, indeed, get the spot out (Um..it would have cut said frustration in half by scraping it with a butter knife; easily spotless in one spray of cleanser and a quick swipe of the paper towel. Princess thought it best to keep her mouth shut).

The kitchen was clean.  They did a FABULOUS job.

Now, did I know they were this capable?

Yes.

Would I expect this all the time from my boys when I am having an exceptionally tired day?

No.

Was I enjoying this particular gesture of appreciation, love and understanding?

Absolutely.

Therefore, they earned some SERIOUS appreciation, love and understanding in return…

….which is how Team Minnix rolls.