January 24, 2013

• Lessons in Sorting

  

  When the boys turned 13, I told them that one of the privileges of being a teenager was that they got to do the laundry.  That didn't sound like a sweet deal to them, but since they had already been helping with the laundry, this was really just a step up in the process and they haven't complained too much.  They're not doing all the laundry, but both boys are taking two loads from start to finish each week.  The first load contained a blanket, a stuffed animal and a few assorted socks.  He was pleased with himself, but he had a few instructions on exactly what to wash in the second load.  

  Yesterday, their hamper was overflowing and I decided to sort the clothes for them and let them take it from there.  The first two batches went fine, but when the first batch was removed from the dryer a red washcloth fell onto the pile of church clothes that was ready for the next load.  Guess what?  No one noticed that the red washcloth went into the washer with khaki pants until it was too late.  Now we have an almost-new pair of pants with pink splotches.  And what on-the-cusp-of-manhood boy wants to wear pants with pink splotches?  Not these two.  I think I've decided to leave the pants in their closet as a reminder to watch out for red washcloths.  It's likely that one of them will pull those pants out for church, so if you happen to see pink splotches, please don't say anything to them about sorting laundry.  I think just wearing the pants will be enough of a reminder.

  • 6:42 am
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