A Favor

It is Christmas Eve and Charlie has no idea what is really coming to him. He understands that he will be getting some presents, but I don't think he quite realizes the multitude of gifts his grandparents, aunts, uncles and many of our friends will be bestowing on him. For these gifts, I am very grateful and I have no doubt he will play with them...for about 10 minutes a day (if you're lucky). The rest of the time will likely be spent kicking a ball he made out of a crumpled up Costco add, running around in circles with my scarf over his face or slamming his body repeatedly on the couch.

But these "toys" are nothing compared to his favorite thing to play with which is literally a bucket of water on the back porch and anything you want to put inside of it. Cups, plastic toys, his dirty laundry, just to name few. While it never really gets all that cold out here on the left coast, I realize it is still winter and playing in water, outside, might not be the best choice. (That didn't stop me from sending him out the other day, in the rain, with no shoes on...or pants. What? I didn't lock the slider and go take a bath!) That said, I figured I needed a rainy day activity similar to water play that could be done inside the dry, warm house.

So I was an awesome Pinterest mom last night and Charlie and I made "rainbow rice." I used this blog post here as my guide. Also, no, I don't have any pictures of the two of us making the rice together. Why? Well, I invite you to take some pictures of your two year old whilst food coloring and a jug of vinegar are all within his reach. If you are comfortable stepping back to capture that beautiful moment, well then, you win mother of the year, forever.

So the rice worked like a charm; he played and I glamorously folded laundry at the kitchen table. We then proceeded to have this conversation:

"Mommy, can you do me a favor?"

"Sure."

"Can you get that washcloth?" Assuming he needed it for his rice play for some reason that only a toddler can understand I gladly handed it to him.

"No Mommy! I don't want that! Um, can you do me a favor?"

"Sure."

Pointing to another one he said, "Can you get that washcloth?"

"Sure, babe. Here you go."

"No, Mommy! I don't want that thing!"

To quote the princess bride I thought to myself, I do not think that word means what you think it means, and said, "Um, okaaaay. You said 'can you do me a favor' so I thought you wanted me to give it to you. That is what 'a favor' means."

"Oh. Mommy, can you do me a favor?"

"Sure, honey. What is it?"

"Can you please stop giving me those things?"

"Sure, love. You got it." And I suppose he finally did.