party time

This is a photo of Liam almost exactly one year ago. I don't know what I was doing, but while my back was turned he cleaned out the silverware drawer. Ever since he could grab and move, he's had an odd attachment to cutlery and napkins. Nearly every day now I find a "party" set up in some random spot in our house. Some days I take it well and play along. I pause for a couple minutes and say, hey, what do you have going on here? Usually it's a party with Matt and Banjo and Simmy and Corny and Sour (his loyal "friends" or, shall we say, fall guys). I ask what they're celebrating and what they're eating, the usual thing one would inquire about when one finds yarn tied to drawer handles and spoons, forks, floral napkins, twist ties, straws and little hors d'oeuvre knives covering the coffee table or forming a big circle on the floor. But, honestly, most days I am frustrated... crazy clean up lady. And he sees me coming. He practically throws himself over the "party," a human shield. "No, mom," he shouts. "This is my party!" Usually I acquiesce. But occasionally, the party's over.

Today was one of those days. The house had gone too long without tidying and I was going under. After a while the clutter kills me and I've got to get it under control immediately. I know this is happening when Andrew stands by and asks, "Are you mad?" I always assume he means angry but maybe he's concerned I'm crazy. I bark, "No! I'm cleaning up!" This is the only way I know how to do it... as the crazy clean up lady. So, today, after I had tidied the remnants of a several-days-old party and organized various books and board games, etc., etc., I passed by Liam's room and saw that all of his little Playschool knights (and their various swords, horses, shields, etc.) were out jousting or whatever it is they were doing.

I found Liam and said in my sweetest crazy clean up lady voice, "Honey, you're going to need to clean up your room today."

As if he had utterly forgotten his room and its contents existed, he excitedly said, running from the hall to his door, "I'm going to play with my knights!"

I smartly called after him, "Okay, for a little bit, but as you finish playing with them, put them away in their bin."

"That's a really good idea, mom," he enthusiastically called out. Then he paused and added, "But, no."

The knights did end up in their bin (with a little help from dad), but at bedtime I saw that Mr. Smartypants had them all out swordfighting again. Really, what's the point of cleaning up? So, okay, here's to fascinating, free-form cutlery sculptures and parties, parties, parties. Mom's trying, Liam. She really is.