It is a well established fact that Alethea looks like her daddy.  But I’m sure she is my child… she really likes cleaning the house.  She also likes to be clean herself.  At meals she has to have her wet washcloth nearby because if she gets too much food on her hands or face, she gets upset and wants to clean up before she will continue eating.

That’s why I was a little mystified when out of the blue at the beginning of this week, she very deliberately began spilling large amounts of food on the floor at EVERY meal.  Cereal in the morning, mac and cheese at lunch, rice at dinner, whatever would cause maximum mess is what was tossed from the table.

Monday after each meal, the broom came out and Alethea was asked to assist cleaning up the mess she had made.  I was hoping she would realize that when she makes a mess that means someone (me!) has to clean it up.

It didn’t work…

Tuesday morning arrived and once again the cereal ended up on the floor.  Alethea looked up at me expectantly and said “Sweep?”

That’s when the light bulb came on.  She was spilling her food on purpose because she likes ‘helping’ clean it up!!!!

A new strategy then followed.  Mommy cleans up food thrown from the table by herself, while Alethea is taking her afternoon nap.  Alethea is asked to help sweep at times when there has been no food related incidents.

Like magic, the food throwing quickly ceased.

If only it were always that easy.