Why You Should Fight to do the Dishes.
1:06 PM
Firstly, most of the time I hate doing dishes. I am sure most people do. But, food on dishes makes me cringe. I am very much a "rinse your plate" kind of gal; so I am not the person you're going to find hopping up and down to wash. I even prefer to cook and clean at the same time. As I finish a dish I wash it to avoid having to do a sink full later. I am literally, methodical to avoid doing dishes.
But, in recent years I have found myself literally begging to do dishes. Not for me - but for my Grandma. If I make dinner at their home I have to strong arm her away from the sink, she is a habitual cleaner. So much so that it's a running joke that when something is missing that she "over cleaned" and it found a new home put away...somewhere. I did not inherit the cleaning genes from her, but, in my later teen years living with her I definitely learned that keeping things clean helped avoid some pretty wicked glances from her. As an adult, her coming to visit terrified me. I knew every little thing I'd get a glance about - and she never disappointed. You should have seen me trying every act of God to clean the bottom of my white sink that was stained. I was scrubbing for HOURS then the next day when she got there she was standing in my kitchen and asked if I'd ever tried bleach in it. I could have fallen over, I knew she'd notice! For the record the next week I left bleach in it for like 2 hours and that finally worked. But, I digress.
I have always loved watching my Grandma cook and clean. There's almost an art to it and everything was always so fresh and put together, a far cry from my own normal. Beyond that she's just a really incredible woman. She has a softness about her, but also has such an air of strength. I've always thought that if I end up half the woman she is, then I'm not doing so bad. I confide in her about everything, her approval is what helps validate decisions and what leads me into things with caution. When my Mother died she took on two roles and does so much more than anyone else would at her age - she retired just to become a professional Grandma, I swear it.
So back to those pesky dishes. Why do I do the dishes? Because she has spent almost 30 years taking care of me. She cut my pancakes into tiny triangles that made them taste better. She made me countless meals and never once asked me to help clean up. She just made sure I finished my drink and then put it in the sink for me. She has cleaned my messes, filled my belly, provided me with clean clothes, and countless times she has washed my dishes. So now, it's my turn. It's my way of showing her I was watching, that I was learning. I probably have not said thank you near enough for all that she's given and done but that one tiny act is my way of saying "Thank you". So you better believe when push comes to shove after dinner I will drag my brother with me to the sink and shoo her away to go sit down. God knows she's earned it.
So, whens the last time you said thank you? There's no time like the present.
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| Photo Credit - Eric Setter with One Seven Two Photography |
With Love,
Kayla
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