Try to look on the bright side.

Once in a blue moon I actually have a kid set the table.  Usually kids are reading, or playing or working on something, and really I need to find excuses to stay in the kitchen and not burn things myself.  (becuase scrubbing cabinets might be useful, but oh so hard)

Today Baby Girl really wanted to help, I was growing tired of her dumping the beans out of the pot in her overearnest efforts to stir.  So I sent her to fetch spoons.

First I hear a ton of jangling.  Why does a child find the need to rustle up every single piece of silverware in order to find just a few?  I get the feeling there is some kind of kid rule stating 'you must make as much noise as possible when doing anything;.

Anyway I also heard her say 'I have 8 forks, I need to put one back to have 7'.

Now on the one hand, I asked for spoons...and Little One doesn't really need one.  So not exactly following directions there.

On the other hand, Baby girl is picking up on subtraction!

I always try to look on the bright side.  

Now they are having a snack, Dude and Daddy are competing to see what sort of fascinating designs they can make from a tortilla shell.   I could lament the wasted time, and wonder just why they have to make flowers out of tortilla shells.  Dude is explaining to Princess just how she can make a flower, (fold in quarters, take two bites, unfold)

Or I could look at the bright side,  practice in symmetry.  Working together, and maybe fractions for the little ones (folding in quarters).