Two Year Old Cleans Up
It is sometimes a very hard thing to get your children to learn how to clean. I had to try just about everything, including bribery to get my children to finally clean up after themselves.
I am reminded of a time long ago, when my oldest child was only a toddler. My daughter loved playing with my keys. We woke up one morning very late to get to a doctors appointment. After running around the house chasing my daughter to finally get her little buns dressed, I was at a loss for where I had put my keys.
I searched high and low. I checked every drawer in her bedroom, my bedroom, the bathroom, the kitchen, every available spot I could lay my eyes on where I thought the keys may have gotten to.
The time slipped by. We were too late for the appointment I had to call and cancel it. I was not impressed as I had to wait another four months to be seen again.
As I surveyed the mess of our house caused by my massive overhaul search method,I asked my daughter if she had seen my keys.
She ran into her room and grabbed her own toy keys to bring to me.
“Mommy have mine.” She quipped in her cute little baby voice.
“Thank you sweetheart, but Mommy can’t lock the door or drive the car with your keys, baby girl.” I smiled and kissed her fondly on the head.
With the appointment missed and the day wasted, I decided I may as well spend what was left on baking some cookies. My daughter loved to help me bake. Licking out the bowl and beaters were her specialty. We were going to a church picnic the following day, and I needed to make some cookies for my Sunday school class children.
I opened the oven door to take out the roasting pan and almost dropped it with surprise at what was inside. My keys lay neat in the bottom of the tray.
I started to laugh hysterically. My daughter just stood, mouth agape as I slid to the floor, holding my stomach, tears pouring down my face. She too started to laugh.
My husband came home at that time. He scanned the room in bewilderment. Clothes hanging from lamp shades, toys thrown all over, cupboards open, drawers hanging out, pots and pans littered the usually immaculate kitchen floor. There in the middle of the mess with flour from head to toe were his two girls clutching each other and laughing like wild hyenas.
When we were calmed down, my daughter and I played a new game called “Tidy Up Time.”
That is one of the joys of trying to teach your children to put things away. Sometimes it may not be something of theirs, and sometimes they may not recall where they put it. But remember, It is Always in the Last Place you look.


About the Author
Melanie Bremner is a mother of three who has written and published several children’s stories, taught Sunday school, and graduated from business school, with a minor in psychology.
She is presently running and maintaining an online retail children’s shop, and produces a bi-weekly newsletter full of stories, facts and fun for the whole family. If you would be interested in receiving tips on various topics of raising children, you can sign up for her newsletter at http://bargainbin4kids.com/