53. Doing the housework: the son (1/6)

Sometimes in our household we do cleaning chores. In fact, reflecting upon it, lockdown has been incredibly beneficial in that area. 

As no cleaner could come to our house and who would come to clean here with 6 of us 7/7 24/24? And anyway it would be like shovelling snow when it's snowing. 

So I should not have been so surprised when my son came up to me asking:

'Is this cloth a dusting cloth?'

That kind of question, coming from him has me worrying right away. But truly what I really wanted to do was jump up and down for joy. Instead I waited until he told me why he was asking such a question. 

'Yes, it is. But hold on ...'

I do not want to stop him in his stride. I mean what if he did want to dust? And yet I recognise it instantly: this bit of brightly coloured cloth is one of a set of two lovely ones handed to me personally by the school I work in so I would not have to touch the disgusting usual board dusters. The thought that my son could treat it as an ordinary rag has me on the brink of tears. Does he really have no respect for anything?

'But ... but ... it is one of the official school dusters.'

'What on earth is an official school duster? Mum! Come on, is this a cloth for dusting, yes or no?'

I have no choice. I give a timid 'yes' as an answer.

'Be careful with it, please. I will need it back.'

He raises his eyes to the ceiling. 

'You've got the blue one. How many do you need?' 

'Two: one for the chalk boards, one for the marker boards.' As I am saying the words aloud to my son, I am thinking that the headmaster must have been making this up as he said it. 

Not even a minute later he is back in the kitchen. He is running the tap and rinsing the dusting cloth.

'You know, dusting is usually done with a dry cloth. No need for water.'

'I know.' (He knows?)

'I am washing it because I have finished the dusting. You can have it back for your marker board.'

'How can you have finished the dusting so soon?'

'I did not do all the dusting! (Rolling of the eyes) Just dusted the lampshade. My stupid sister ran her fingers on it and it made a mark in the dust. So I dusted it. Now it's done.'

I am at a total loss for words. I do not react quickly enough, he is off outside, he seems so pleased with himself. Once he is out of the way I go to inspect the lampshade: free of dust all around, perfect job. All the other surfaces are still dusty even the other parts of the lamp! He only dusted not one item but one part of an item.

Should I worry? Should I be pleased about this progress he is definitely making in the field of 'necessary household chores'? I opt for the second and feel so proud that my son has, of his own accord, taken the full initiative to dust a lampshade!

Isn't family life great? Isn't this such a wonderful achievement for a modern mother! I make a mental note to praise him later for his superb dusting skills.