Teach them while they're young...

By child #5, you know that you need to start young with good habits. Like when your 2 year old decides it will be funny to throw Kicks cereal all over the living room. You don't roll your eyes or scold and then pick it up yourself. OH NO!! I learned that a two year old is totally capable of choosing to help mommy pick up the cereal or sit in thinking time while mom does it so he knows it's unacceptable.

So I tell Tyson to help mommy pick up the mess and explain to him that it is a definate "no-no!" He looks at me for a minute, and marches off. I turn around to go march him over to help; lo and behold....

He discovered a more efficient way to clean up!! He had even turned on the vacuum and proceeded to suck up all the rest of the cereal; even the cereal that got stuck in the couch cushions.

We always hope are kids will be better and smarter than we are. Tyson's got it in the bag at 2!