Mommy's Little Helper

As soon as the dishwasher door gets opened, you're guaranteed to hear the pitter-patter of little feet running across the kitchen floor.  It doesn't matter what Ainsley's doing, she can hear me open that door from the other room, and she knows it's time to help Mommy.  For about a week now, she thinks she's the only person that can put the silverware away.  I never even showed her how to do it, or asked.  She just started doing it one day.

I usually start with the top rack of the dishwasher and put away the glasses, bowls, etc. but Ainsley likes to pull the bottom drawer out while I'm working on the top drawer and grab the silverware.  In the past, she usually just runs into the living room with a couple of clean spoons and I would just put them back with the dirty dishes once I was done.  It kept her occupied for a few minutes and would give me time to unload it.

About a week ago, that changed.  She would still take the spoons out (it's funny that she knows she can only have the spoons and won't even try touching the forks or knives), but instead of running into the other room with them, she pulled open the silverware drawer, stood on her tip toes and put the spoon away.  I couldn't believe it when she did it the first time, but I let her do her thing and sure enough, she had all the spoons put in the drawer in no time.  I let her move onto the forks while I grabbed all the knives.  Now, they are by no means put in the spoon slot of the silverware tray, but they all do make it into the drawer.

Clapping for herself after putting a spoon away

Gotta get another one

It's become one of her favorite things to do.  Joel came home one day and asked if Ainsley helped me put dishes away.  He just laughed when he saw the silverware drawer.  I know this is bad, but I don't even bother sorting the silverware out after Ainsley's put it all away, because I like looking at it every time I open the drawer and knowing my Ainsley-bug helped!

So, if you come over to our house and need a spoon...you'll find it along with a bunch of forks thrown into the drawer.