Sometimes there's a battle between "Good Mom" and "Bad Mom." Today, my three-year old, Brooklynn, asked me if she could wash the dishes. We had our lunch dishes and her porcelain tea set (with just about every handle broken) in the sink. Bad mom figured Brooklynn just wanted to play in the water and get the floor wet. Good mom thought it would be a good opportunity for her to learn a new skill.

I put an apron on Brooklynn, so she wouldn't get completely soaked (a smart compromise for both good and bad mom). I then got my daughter a chair, a sponge with some dish soap and let her go for it.

Good mom spread out a clean dish towel next to the sink and showed Brooklynn how to put a plate there when she was finished. "Make sure you turn it upside down so it can dry," good mom said demonstrating. Bad mom smirked thinking there was no way a three-year old would actually turn the dishes upside down to dry. "Please don't get soap everywhere," said bad mom.

A while later my daughter called for me. Every dish was washed and nicely turned upside down on the towel. I couldn't believe my eyes (neither could bad mom). My daughter stood there on that chair so proud. It was a great moment (especially for good mom).

Of course as I looked carefully at the washed dishes, I noticed she had also washed a cutting knife. Great! Bad mom forgot to check for sharp devices in the sink! Oh well. Brooklynn washed it carefully and didn't cut any major arteries. Good mom can relax now.

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