Cinderella, Cinderella!

Do you remember this song from your childhood?



I find myself humming this song during the day when I am cleaning up after the little kiddos. No, I am not referring to myself as a Cinderella figure - but rather my two little munchkins. See, I have found the best way to entertain my kids - let them clean the house.

Seriously.

No, I'm not kidding.

They think this is the bomb and cheer when I let them help. They also try to knock the other one down rushing to the bedroom to help put away laundry when I'm folding it (apparently it is a big deal to be "the one" to put away the socks, I guess they have yet to realize there are  MANY pairs of socks to go in the drawer). Yes, we are working on toning down the enthusiasm just a little to prevent injury, but also recognize this gig will probably not last long so we are milking it for all it's worth.  

My girls love to help, especially when they think it is a job that only big people can do or involves an appliance. Like a vacuum cleaner, the snow shovel, or the sticky roller lint remover. They usually sing (which means they really just yell) the clean up song at the top of their lungs.  

We have three cats, so there is always hair on the couches. We vacuum the couches once or twice a week, but they love to help out on the other days by using the sticky lint rollers. I usually ask them who can get the most hair and Sylvie races to the challenge. Mary doesn't quite understand the challenge aspect yet, but happily wants to do whatever her big sister is doing.

Most of the time I don't even have to ask them to clean up, they act it out spontaneously in their play. When they are in the bath tub, I can almost guarantee that some of the time spent (after playing with toys and bottles) involves them wiping down the tile walls of the shower. I think part of it is to see who can reach further and "clean higher" than the other.