Yehoshua has been on "dishes duty" for well over a year now. At 2.5, he knows all about rinsing dishes, getting water all over the floor, using the sprayer, and getting clean towels out to wipe up his mess. He even puts the wet towels in the laundry for me when he's done!

I was beginning to think Yehoshua would never tire of washing dishes. I couldn't even turn on the faucet at the kitchen sink to wash my hands without having him run into the room saying, "Help dishes, Mama! Help dishes!" I guess once or twice a day just wasn't often enough!

But, in the past couple of weeks, Yehoshua's fascination with helping me wash dishes has been wearing off. Whereas he once came running to "help" as soon as he heard me start the dish water, these days he's content to just do other things. 

When I wrote about Yehoshua helping me in the kitchen, someone commented regarding young children washing dishes. My little guys don't exactly wash the dishes for me (wouldn't that be amazing if they did!) but they do love to help!

Eliyahu is now 10 months old, and just had his first washing-dishes experience! Ten months isn't some magic age; it just happens to be the age where my babies were able to stand up to things and had enough balance that I wasn't worried about them falling off the chair while helping me. Neither Yehoshua or Eliyahu could walk at that age, and I keep a close eye on them when they're that little.

I gather all the dishes first, so I don't have to leave their side while they are helping. Gradually, they get older and to the point where they can even push the chair over to the sink when they want to help! And, of course, Yehoshua can climb up on the chair all by himself to help me now. :)

Here are a couple pictures of Eliyahu, the first time he got to help with dishes!

"Look at all those dishes! I get to play with the plastic ones!"

"These are the water bottles... they are fun to play with!"

"I'm a big boy now!"

When my little guys started helping with the dishes, their little arms couldn't even reach to the bottom of the sink! Now, Yehoshua can even reach up and turn on the water!  I'm not sure I like that! ;)

But what I do like, is, washing dishes beside my precious smiling little boys who beg to "help". :)