Toddler Treasures: The Swiffer Angel

I have cleaning on the brain a lot.

It probably has something to do with my home’s constant near state of disarray. I can barely stay on top of it all. Especially with 6 people living here.

But the real problem is the 16 month old.

He undoes everything I do. His favorite thing to do is walk around the house pulling things out and dropping them on the floor. The books, the diapers, the wipes (one by one), the dishes in the dishwasher, the crayons, the toys, even the garbage!

I am living a poem that my grandma has in her house, “Cleaning house while kids are still growing is like shoveling snow while it’s still snowing.”

This little ‘angel’ threw his rice all over the floor. I do not enjoy stepping on rice, so after promptly ending his dinner time I got out the broom.

As I tried to sweep I started tripping over our Swiffer. The little mess maker was trying to do what he saw me do. Sweep. And he wasn’t really helping.

My gut reaction was to take it away from him and go put it away so I could finish my job. But when I looked down and saw him grinning at me I caught myself.

He was just trying to be like me. That’s what little kids do. They learn to be adults.

So instead, I took out a section of the Swiffer pole so it was just his size and put a sweeper cloth on the end. We finished cleaning up the mess together.

Best idea ever!

All he wanted to do was be like me. I was so caught up in seeing someone in my way that I almost missed an opportunity to teach my child that cleaning up your messes and working with someone is fun!

Now he Swiffers with me anytime he sees me grab the broom, mop, or vacuum.

I’ve come to enjoy having my little sweeping angel around.

And my floor has a little less dust on it. 🙂

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1 Comment

  1. WAY TO GO MOM!!!!! As I read your description of you, your helper and about his constant messes, I wondered when you were going to let him pick up what he just pulled out. When they start helping they learn that it takes much longer to clean up than to mess up!!! You’re doing good!!!

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