Toddlers and mess go hand in hand. Little A's most favourite hobby is to topple the whole tub of toys whenever she goes past it. All the toys certainly don't come out in one toddler push, so she makes sure to push it harder until that tiny piece of clay sticking to the base is out and she'd sit on it comfortably and sing "Lo lo lo a boat"! No it doesnt end there. You need to sing the entire rhyme and she'll do the required actions, and then walk out, heart content! As I bend down to clean up the mess, I hear a 'Nooooo' and there she comes paddling back through the clutter to frantically put them back on the floor, making it worse!
I mutter to myself as I retrieve a tiny toy fork tucked in between the cushions. 'Why is it that all the nicest and most interesting games have a zillion pieces!!?' But more than the expensive toys, its the bits, bobs and junk, that kids love. Empty milk cans, empty plastic pill boxes, milk powder scoops, disposable spoons, cardboard boxes, a wollen ball from the scarves, a tiny piece of thread from a dress, colourful flashdrives, cd boxes, combs and everything that can be categorized as junk are much sought after! You may think its easier to shove them away in their absence, true, but they are replaced much faster than you think. Like the colonies of bacteria in a culture plate, the junk only keeps mutiplying.
There's no area that is free of clutter when the little one is allowed to have fun. The worst is the floor and you are sure to have your foot punched with lego blocks and clay tools while walking across to attend a phone call. You could be transfixed by little toy knives, or a toy toaster or her favourite sand shovel while you try to do simple things like sitting on a sofa! Beds aren't spared either. Balloons, a toy bread slice, dolls, shape cutters, cars, books, toy spoons and so many other interesting items that are freshly bought find their way into the bedroom to sleep next to the tiny tot!
With a motherly intention to impart the knowledge that messes can be cleaned up too, I include little A in the process. I let her sort all the blocks, books, crayons and the rest and put them in different bags/boxes and happily wind up. But little did I know that my happiness is short lived. After all the sorting, little A would want that small yellow car to hold onto when she sleeps, yes, the very same car that first went into that green box that was tactfully tucked in between a huge collection of assorted puzzles. Trying my best to not disturb the arrangements, I put my hand underneath to feel that green box, but finally, end up turning the tub upside down to desperately lay my hands on that yellow car to immediately stop her from crying! Sigh!
I'll choose playing with my baby over cleaning, anyday, anytime. "Do you want me to read that book again for you? Ok, here you go....that little bit of dusting can wait." "Err....You want me draw for you? Very well, come and sit down....I'll put this hoover away!"
Almost always, little A takes the role of a helper and excitedly throws the pieces into the storage boxes but all this only until she spots her long lost BINGO pup or a wooden spoon from her kitchen set that had disappeared weeks back! Her play would restart with soaring spirits and the story continues. But this time, I give up, I really don't have the heart to 'mess' her fun! After all, she'll be 2 years 6 months and 10 days only ONCE!
Food for thought:
- Cleaning should be a routine, not an obsession. The more you are obsessed, more is the stress.
- Toys are to be played with, papers strewn about, that is childhood. Good if you understand. Don't worry if others don't!
- Happiness is when the little girl holds the pencil right rather than clutching it in her fist because you spent that 20 minutes showing her how to, instead of scrubbing the kitchen floor!
