Dishwashing Toddler Tango

Today I made tamales with my mother again, so I was cooking chicken and making chicken stock early in the morning. As I let the chicken cook I did dishes and made sure to set the dishwasher tray which holds the silverware on the counter lest the toddler hands find the shiny knives. Doing dishes with a toddler around is like learning a sixty step dance and I have no rhythm nor patients when I just want to get something done and move on.

I start with the dishwasher door open but both drawers pushed in. At first, Sophia is just playing with the lid to the soap dispenser so I’m able to pull out the top drawer to place the first dish. She pushes it in for me. I pull it back out again to place the second dish. She pushes it in again and starts to close the door. I open the door and pull out the bottom drawer for the third dish. Sophia pulls out the top drawer. I push in the top drawer so that I can reach the back of the bottom one. Sophia pushes in the bottom drawer and starts closing the door again. I think you get the point. I think there was only one occasion in which she either pushed in or pulled out a drawer at the same time I needed it. I got so frustrated at our lack of coordination that I yelled at her to, “stop it!” She laughed at me. She really is her father’s daughter. My frustration amuses them both.