K graduated from kiddie kamp today. She came home with this construction paper hat and a little diploma (do we have to graduate from everything? I am not going to be saving this diploma, in fact it's already in the recycling bin, but this gets into a whole different issue that isn't the subject of this post). Kiddie kamp was an eight-day, two-hour a morning "kamp" (I know the "k" is cute, but why confuse kids?) designed to help kids get ready for preschool--a great idea for kids like K who have never been in day care. I am not sure she actually learned much, but she did have fun and apparently talked to other kids which is huge for her. And as for H and I? We had a great time. We haven't had much one-on-one time since K quit napping. H is so sweet when she doesn't have to share with anyone (I am sweet under such circumstances too). We ran errands, did school shopping, chatted over milk steamers at the coffee shop (so fun!), cooked together, did laundry together, enjoyed each other, and said so many I love yous that I lost count.

This reminds me, I've read numerous parenting books that emphasize teaching your kids household duties...teach them to crack an egg, to fold laundry, etc. You know, include them in what you are doing. I love this idea. But in practice it is hard. With H, it is mostly easy. With both of them, it's torture. Fighting over who gets to put which ingredients, too many hands, too many grabs, my constant fear of all the ingredients being flung out of the bowl. Maybe I should cook for fun so it doesn't matter what happens, but I don't like to cook or bake so the aforementioned idea "cooking for fun" is an oxymoron to me. Cleaning isn't much better. Fighting over who gets to clean the dryer vent or watching chores deteriorate into a goofiness which requires disciplining makes me tired and most of the time I try to avoid such situations because I am lazy. I am sure some of the problem is poor management on my part. After all, women with five kids manage to involve their children in the daily chores (or so I am told, Kara, is it true?). But trying to teach life skills is definitely better accomplished at my house one on one. Today H learned to crack pepper, to cut onions with a sharp knife and to fold shirts properly. Well, maybe she didn't learn this last one as the sillies took over. I showed her how to fold, and then in her most snotty, know-it-all voice she said, "No mom, I have my own way." She proceeded to make small, origami-like folds and rolls and then handed me the shirt, which immediately unfolded. Still in teaching mode, and not realizing the lessons of the day had transformed into a game, I tried to explain the purpose of folding (to keep the clothes from getting wrinkled, to keep them organized, so they take up less space in the drawer....). H took the shirt and did a different kind of origami, with a grin. I showed her two other acceptable ways to fold the shirt and told her to choose one. The game was on and I lost. We went upstairs with the origami on top of the laundry pile and H laughing hard.