Last night, Elliot and I were eating teriyaki salmon, barley, and garbanzo beans for dinner. The bottle of teriyaki sauce was on the table, uncovered.

Elliot accidentally knocked it over and sauce spilled onto the table.

He was so apologetic that I was surprised, “I’m sorry. I’m sorry, Daddy.” Over and over again.

I told him not to worry about it, no big deal. We went to the sink and retrieved the sponge. I started to clean it, but Elliot wanted to do it. He did not know what to do, so I showed him not to soak the sauce into the sponge, then go to the sink, squeeze out the sponge, rinse it, and repeat the soaking at the table. Of course I had to pick him up to read the kitchen faucet.

As a like while it was clean, and I said, “See? No big deal.” We finished dinner… and he never even asked to watch! Just a bubble bath afterwards with playtime with me. Then the usual “cocoon “ ritual. I pretended to find him a bottle of milk and pacifier, to which he proudly proclaimed “I’m not a baby!”, and refused the imaginary bottle/pacifier. Three books and sleep. It was a nice night.