Underpants

Oh my god, what a rich and hysterical half-hour we just had. So full of whirling sibling dynamics. I had to get it all down before I forget it. My internal comments are in italics.

During dinner, Toby asked me to grate some Parmesan cheese on his pasta. You can do that yourself just fine. I encouraged him to do it himself. While he was moaning about how he can't get enough on, Hazel took the cheese and grater and started doing her own. Way to shame him into it, girlfriend. Have to keep my mouth shut! I suggested that since Hazel was doing it, maybe he would ask her to help him. He did ask her to grate some cheese for him, but when she balked, he said, "well, then, what do you want to do for me instead? If you're not going to do the cheese, will you take out the compost for me?" (his contribution). She doesn't owe you anything, bud. Keep my mouth shut! But I do suggest a trade when he is resisting doing a task, guess that's where he got that idea. She said yes, and he was satisfied and grated his own cheese. That's all you had to do in the first place.

After dinner, Toby told Hazel it was time to take out the compost, and all she needed was to put on underwear, pants, and shoes. Little does he know that's a huge undertaking. Keep my mouth shut. He said, "here, I'll help you." Now this is the cutest, greatest thing EVER:





Unfortunately, by the time they got to pants, things deteriorated until they were both crying. Oh well. He yelled at her, "do you want to take out the compost? It's a yes or no question! Do you?" Don't yell at her, she was doing you a favor! "No." "Well, then, what are you going to do instead? Help me turn out the lights?" "Okay." Wow, they both stopped crying. They worked this whole thing out themselves. Toby took the compost out by himself, without complaint (first time doing this without a parent). Again, all you had to do to avoid a whole big drama.

Toby's being bossy and manipulative, but Hazel didn't seem too bothered by that part, and I am not at all worried about her being able to hold her own. I stayed out of it, they worked it out, were both happy at the end, he did both tasks for himself, and they had the most adorable sibling/helping interaction ever. Did I say I love this??