What I'll Do for 10 Minutes of Alone Time
Yeah, so, it's confession time.
Occasionally, during Little Guy's mealtime or snacktime I take the opportunity to get a few things done in another room - I'll fold some clothes or pay a few bills or surf some blogs. I usually get about 5-10 minutes to myself this way.
But it's always risky - you know, leaving a toddler alone with food.
Usually it all works out.
That is, unless I leave him alone a little too long. Like today.
I guess I should have come to him the instant I heard him call my name, but I think I might have waited about 30.9 seconds too long.
And in that time, destruction....
Hey mommy, cottage cheese and applesauce make a really good medium for finger painting. Who knew?
If you can't see it in the picture, he had not only dumped out his own bowl of food, but also the entire tub of cottage cheese that lay within his reach on the table.
And that chair he's sitting on? Yeah, that belongs to the $2500 dining room table that I purchased pre-kids and that I use as our kitchen table because a) we no longer have a dining room and b) I haven't had the courage to sell it on Craigslist for the measly $250 I'm likely to get. Why isn't the chair seat covered with something to keep it clean, you ask? Yeah, hmmm, good question. (Hindsight, people, hindsight.)
And yet, as I stooped over to clean the cottage cheese out of the crevice between his stomach and his diaper, I totally felt like it was all worth getting the extra 10 minutes to myself today.
Totally worth it.
Occasionally, during Little Guy's mealtime or snacktime I take the opportunity to get a few things done in another room - I'll fold some clothes or pay a few bills or surf some blogs. I usually get about 5-10 minutes to myself this way.
But it's always risky - you know, leaving a toddler alone with food.
Usually it all works out.
That is, unless I leave him alone a little too long. Like today.
I guess I should have come to him the instant I heard him call my name, but I think I might have waited about 30.9 seconds too long.
And in that time, destruction....
Hey mommy, cottage cheese and applesauce make a really good medium for finger painting. Who knew?
If you can't see it in the picture, he had not only dumped out his own bowl of food, but also the entire tub of cottage cheese that lay within his reach on the table.
And that chair he's sitting on? Yeah, that belongs to the $2500 dining room table that I purchased pre-kids and that I use as our kitchen table because a) we no longer have a dining room and b) I haven't had the courage to sell it on Craigslist for the measly $250 I'm likely to get. Why isn't the chair seat covered with something to keep it clean, you ask? Yeah, hmmm, good question. (Hindsight, people, hindsight.)
And yet, as I stooped over to clean the cottage cheese out of the crevice between his stomach and his diaper, I totally felt like it was all worth getting the extra 10 minutes to myself today.
Totally worth it.
Labels: Little Guy, oh crap
posted by Cristina @12:00 AM
16 Comments:
Oh. My. God.
I am terrified that this very scene is not too far off in my future as I also sneak away during meal times for some alone time. I, however, have a crap table and chairs from Ikea. So it probably wouldn't be quite so devastating...
Ugh. THAT is the reason I am so grateful to have my computer area in the kitchen! Even still, we've had messes like this while I turn my back to him.
Hopefully you're able to get that cottage cheese out of the cushion!
Hee hee...Worth it?
I can't agree...The cleaning part anyway...But that face? Totally worth it.
Ah, yes... I can relate. Those 10 minutes alone can be better than sex sometimes.
On the plus side, I have discovered that Oxy Clean (yep... that weird powder hawked by the scary guy from Brooklyn) really does work wonders. Got an entire quart of chocolate ice cream out of my carpet.
OMG.
I know about trying to get something done while the kids are busy with something else. But it's been a while since one of them made a mess such as YOURS.
Glad you got a pic of it!
I love it! First, how can you get made when THAT face is lookin' back at ya? Second, I always enjoy seeing the messes other kids make. I feel less alone! ;)
Baaahaaaa! That's what our kitchen table looks like after dinner. Now I'm reminded why I haven't replaced the ratty thing yet.
Adorable picture, by the way!
Dude, my sister in law is Mama Stewart when it comes to cleaning messes (and preventing them). If you want to preserve the cushions of your nice (pretty, I want to pet them that dining set is so nice) chairs, buy some fabric. Flip the chairs over and there are three or four screws on the bottom holding the cushions to the frame. Take the cushions off by unscrewing the screws (which sounds a little dirty, heh), measure the fabric, and cut to size. Get out the staple gun, staple the fabric to the underside of the cushion, and then reattach the cushion to the chair frame. That way, if Little Guy drops cottage cheese again, or any other food that leaves a mark that you can't get out, you're not worried about the stain to the expensive fabric underneath. When your kid(s) grow up, then you can take the fabric off and you have your nice clean cushions again.
Not only that, but you can change the look of the chairs by selecting fabrics that change with your decorating style. You can be bold without the commitment because you can just pull the snazzy fabric off when you've changed your mind again! See? I told you she's Mama Stewart.
Also, a 1/2 and 1/2 mixture of peroxide and water will get stains out, usually without damaging the color but do a color test to be sure. It's just as good if not better than Resolve and it's only about $1 a bottle plus some tap water. Cheap!
Wow, Andrea. Great advice - thanks!
That picture is priceless! Now, I feel better that my few minutes leaving my little guy alone this AM resulted in corn bread crumbs EVERYWHERE in the living room....rug......sofa...chairs, etc.......at least a vacuum cleaner worked on mine! Yikes!
But, you're so right! That "mommy" time is so worth it!!!!
I've been known to leave my little guy alone eating from time to time. He does pretty good most of the time, but I have walked into scenes like that before. Yes, its totally worth it.
Oh Little Guy! What a BIG mess you've made!
Your kid is too stinkin' cute! Glad to see others also serve homemade lunches of cottage cheese and applesauce. Love it!
Me. Too.
The spendy table, cloth (the used-to-be-off-white-now-a-nasty-grey) seat cushioned chairs, child who causes mayhem and destruction at every possible moment...strapped in his booster while I check my email without him bangin' on the computer keys...TOTALLY WORTH IT.
I have peanut butter photos that whoop your cottage cheese photos' butt! ;-) Think of it: peanut butter sticks to your mouth, a wet surface. How easy is it to clean off of these dry surfaces: wood counter, wheat grinder, floor, wall, garbage can, cupboards, hair, clothing, and skin?
Serves me right for trying to nap while in possession of a three-year old.
HA! Cute piture.
Hey, at least he got some sensory stimulation in there. That's like, montessori-level education there.
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