Babysitter

A few nights ago, Aaron was sitting at the dining room table playing preschool games.  It was getting close to dinner time and he told me he wanted Audrey to play with his castle (a series of stacking boxes painted to look like a castle) and his kitchen (the play kitchen which we constantly have to stress is everyone's kitchen, not his kitchen because he never wants her to play with it).  I was pleased to hear him sound so willing to share.  He said he would watch her while I made dinner.  He'd be the babysitter, he said. 

Wow, that warmed my heart.  It's always hard to make dinner because I can't leave them alone together.  I have to put her in her highchair where I can keep an eye on her.  And even then, if Aaron is not otherwise occupied, he keeps getting in her face and I have to try to keep a sharp eye on them while cooking so he doesn't hurt her.  So if he were willing to play nicely with her while I cooked, that would really be something!

Well, it lasted for about a minute.  She started playing with his kitchen and he got down from the table to come play with her.  Then she reached for the timer on the table next to his kitchen.  The timer for goodness sake!  His precious timer that is counting down the hours until the "soup" in his oven is done.  (It used to be my kitchen timer, but I've let go.)  Well, he couldn't have her playing with that.  Then he'd never know when the soup was done.  So he went from loving brother/babysitter, to pushing her down as she reached for his timer.  C'est la vie.