Say Yes to the Mess

Last evening, I walked into my kitchen to prepare dinner and found complete chaos. We’re talking dishes from the last three meals piled high in the sink. Shredded cheese on the floor from AE helping herself to a snack from the fridge. Countertops cluttered with cereal boxes and kitchen tools that all have homes inside the cabinets.

The mess belied the truth that I am a neat freak. I crave order and cleanliness. But, the past few days Hubby and I crossed some big projects off of our “To Do” list, so cleaning the kitchen took a back seat. Tradeoffs – I’ve learned to accept ’em.

Thankfully, our menu plan for dinner last night was soup. I threw all of my ingredients in a pot, and started to clean up. (Food tastes better if you eat it in a clean kitchen when you’re a neat freak.) I had barely put a dent in the mess when AE came in and asked, “Can I paint at the table while you cook?”

I’ll be honest. I threw out some more “tidy” play options, but Big Sister was determined. She wanted to paint! “Mommy, I’m feeling creative. I’d like to make some art.” How could I argue with that?

I took off my cleaning gloves and headed to our art cabinet. We gathered all of the supplies she requested. For the next 30 minutes, I cleaned and AE painted. It was beautiful!

That girl painting in the above picture is quite possibly the best teacher I have ever had. Say yes to the mess, just one of the many things she’s taught me.