NYR 2-21-14

Don't judge me as a parent, but today was the first day in his life when Mac has cleaned his room and bathroom all by himself from top to bottom.  Well maybe not top to bottom, but multiple cleaning products were involved as were dusting cloths, the vacuum cleaner and a mop.  Soup to nuts cleaning.

I realize that most American children start cleaning their own space as soon as they're old enough to know not to eat the cleaning products, but American children of foreign service officers, particularly those who are born into the foreign service and who have spent about 80% of their lives outside the US where they've been lucky enough to have a housekeeper who cleans the house at least a couple times a week, are not subjected to such menial activities like normal chores.  

It's a rude awakening to one's system to have to clean after you've been so spoiled. But after cleaning a really dirty toilet one time too many, I decided if Mac cleaned it himself, he would improve his aim and learn the art of cleaning a bathroom.  And then he did such a great job with the bathroom that I added the bedroom (which he has been cleaning).  He really wanted to mop and I told him he couldn't mop until everything was cleaned and vacuumed first.  So he did it all without complaint and he did a really great job, and for that I am truly thankful. 

Too bad he doesn't realize this wasn't a one-off thing.