Vacuuming Contest

One of the things that really needed to be done this evening was vacuuming the downstairs.  Willow, Middle Son's service dog, is a Great Pyrenees, which means she leaves a cloud of long white hair in her wake.  There were clumps and clusters of hair all over the place.

I'm trying to have Middle Son and Youngest Son involved in the housework where I can.  Middle will largely do what I ask, but for many tasks I he needs hand-over-hand assistance to understand what he is being asked to do and/or to stay on task long enough to finish.  I've had some success lately turning things into a contest with Youngest.  Last weekend I asked him to help mean clean the toilets, then said "Actually, that job is probably too hard for you, so I'll get someone else to help me."  So naturally he REALLY wanted to clean the toilets after that.

Tonight, I told him that after dinner we were going to have a vacuuming contest.  He, Middle, and I would each vacuum a room and see who did the best job.  He thought that was a great idea.

After dinner we were getting ready to start.  I asked Older Daughter if she wanted to be in on the contest.  To my considerable surprise she said yes.  Youngest vacuumed the family room.  My Beloved Wife and I helped Middle vacuum the kitchen.  Older then took the vacuum for her turn in the dining room.  I said I was very pleased that she had chosen to play along.  Beloved said that it was because I had engaged her competitive streak.

When we were done, Beloved, the judge of the contest, said that all the rooms were definitely much cleaner, so everybody won.

A look at our nights.

So it is Tuesday and this was our night, Monday night. 

Got home, no Nanny or Middle boy (who she is paid to watch and help with some daily things around the house to help out). It is an hour before dinner, so I recruit Eldest Daughter's help. 

Text from Nanny states they are stuck in rush hour traffic due to accident. Whatever. Dinner is under way ( irritation is a given at this point). 

So, meal gets made, people get full, dishes done(ok loaded into the dishwasher and turned on) and Eldest Son is now calling to be picked up from an Art Symposium he has been attending, just down the street. 

Apparently Husband is think of taking Middle with him because I get a shouted, "Hey babe. We have situation upstairs. Looks like someone forgot to either lock or shut the bathroom door to the kids bath and Middle is covered from head to toe," (luckily naked as a Jay Bird) in Fructis citrus something-or-other scented shampoo. And VERY excited about it because now that he has been discovered, he is squealing with delight at being in the shower. 

So I take over shower duty for Middle and have now come to L O V E my Delta hand held shower head that detaches to follow him around the shower to get all of this off if him. Now at the old house we had standard wall mounted fixtures and I would have spent a good half hour talking him into the stream of water and then resorting to a cup with water dumped over his head. 

Again love, love, love the handheld shower head. Now Middle wasn't too thrilled and was....yelling? growling? Well let's just say he is not as enchanted with the handheld as Husband and I are. :)

So, disaster has been averted, but he is clean, dressed(even if the pants are backward) and the world is safe once again, and now the evening is winding down and I want to disconnect for a little bit with some Minecraft. So, Husband is amazing and takes over and I get to disconnect and try to explain to Eldest Daughter what I am doing in the game as she tries to understand why I am enjoying it. She likes competitive games. 

Well I have disconnected for a little bit and Middle wends his way about the house and plops himself in my lap. Ok. I probably should take a break since my eyes are hurting anyway. We snuggle and "chat" and I ask Husband the time. It is almost 10pm. Well that would explain why I feel so tired. Pumpkin time for this girl. So I announce that and end with a, "Looks like its time for bed." Shoo Middle off and go about closing the house up on my way to bed, which includes:

Check the front door lock

Check the back door lock

Check the windows are locked (he'll sneak out one if given a chance)

Remind Husband to put the lock on the dogs kennel before he comes up for bed(Middle has been letting the dogs out of the kennel lately - unusual new behavior on his part)

Make sure the napkins and paper towels are locked up in the pantry

Lock the bicycle lock on the fridge (so he does pour stuff out, take bite of something and then change his mind and put it back, or decide to open a favorite of his, the Pilsbury Cinnamon Rolls and try to "cook" them)

Make sure all doors with keypad locks are closed and locks engaged

Make sure that the toilet paper is locked up

Which in the new house takes me on a nice little circuit around the first floor, which makes me realize, I haven't seen Middle. But ok. Dad/Husband is up so he'll watch out. 

I make my way up the stairs and see that Middles door is slightly ajar and lo and behold, he is in bed with his covers up to his chin just lying there. I smiled. Apparently my bed announcement meant that EVERYONE had to go to bed. 

He is such a joy and makes me smile so. 

Yes. His diagnosis is frustrating. 

No. He cannot "communicate" traditionally. 

Yes. He's smart as a whip.

No. He will never live on his own. 

Yes. I think I totally "get" him somedays.

No. I don't always "get" him. 

He is an amazing, intelligent young man trapped in there. One day we may be advanced enough to meet him. How amazing would that be?!  Personally. I have a sheep load of questions for him. 

Well that was our crazy for the day. Have a great one.