Don’t Open the Drawer

When my kids wake up in the morning, usually it’s a mad house early in the morning. They tend to play together and I entrust my 6 year old daughter E and 4 year old son L with being semi-responsible. My one year old son L is just happily running around usually and having himself a good time.

There are times I need to get breakfast ready quickly or to take care of our huge bernedoodle, so I shut the kids in the playroom for a few minutes while I get things done. The other day, I brought L into the playroom with E and C. I asked them to make sure the door is closed so L couldn’t sneak out. He had done so earlier that day and also many many times in the past when the door isn’t completely shut.

E acknowledged my ask. C was still busy playing and I wanted to make sure he heard me since there are times he keeps doing what he is doing because he didn’t listen. I asked him to repeat what I said to make sure he knew the instructions and he said he heard - don’t open the drawers. I started smiling because it was so close, but so far at the same time from what he needed to do.

We all had a small laugh and I told him not to open the door in the playroom. He understood and then they went about playing again. Things get lost in translation sometimes and there is a lot of inner noise going on with kids (and outer noise!). It’s a reminder that I should remind them and make sure they hears the instructions so we can all do our part in the family a few minutes at a time.