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Washing windows

A friend of mine gave some advice about children. "They're like sheepdogs," she said, "They need a job, or else they get destructive."

So yesterday when I was trying to finish up the Moroccan Chicken Crockpot recipe for the church potluck today, and Luke was opening all the drawers and cupboards in the kitchen, taking various foods out of the pantry and generally hanging on my pant leg, I decided to give Luke a job. I noticed the window cleaning fluid on the counter, so I gave Luke the spray bottle. "Here. Please clean the windows!" "Otay," answered Luke.

He went over and started spraying the windows. "You have to wipe it all clean after you spray, Luke," I said, intending to get him a paper towel or two. "Otay," said Luke---and when I looked up again he had found a kleenex. Problem solved. He happily cleaned windows (actually one window) for about 10 minutes, when I was finished with the recipe.

This morning he started to clean windows again, and he amused his sister. Amanda was sitting there laughing at Luke cleaning the windows and talking about it. When she noticed that he was more interested in spraying on the window cleaner than wiping it off, she ran to get a towel. They worked more or less happily together for about 10 minutes, at which point the task got old.

We're almost out of window cleaner. I think I'll fill the bottle with water and keep some around.

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