No, I'm Not Ready For Finals

"I'm a big girl..."

"I want to be a big girl Anna Beth. Show me! Show me!" Lilia squeals jumping up and down.

"First we have to get this food out of the carpet" I explain. "Go close the back door and I will get what you need to clean."

"Okay" Lilia says and runs down the hall.

When she comes back I say "we need to do something before the floor. We need to get you cleaned up. You're going to keep adding food to the floor if you're that dirty." It bugged me to keep calling mud food... but if it will get the house clean, I can put up with it. I take her outside and get out the hose. "Let's rinse those toes." I say. We laugh and get a bit too wet. "Let's go get dry so we can clean up that lunch before it dries to the carpet." I say.

We head in side and up to our rooms. Quickly I change. There's a knock at the front door. Still fighting with my T-shirt, I rush down the stairs. My shirt on solid, I open the door. "Clara." I give my still teary friend a hug. "Come in. Please. Come in."

Lilia comes running down the stairs. "I'm a big girl. I made Lunch and Anna Beth is going to show me how to clean up."

I turn to Clara. "She made a mud lunch and a huge mess of the house." I explain.

"I see" Clara Says. "I can help you clean. I'm a big girl too."

"Yay!" Lilia yells and heads into the kitchen.

"Thank you" I mouth to Clara.

"She smiles. "My brother just turned six." Clara explains.

"Gotcha" I whisper.

We head into the kitchen. "You have to be a really big girl to clean this up" Clara explains to Lilia.

"I am a really big girl. That's what new mommy says. Old mommy said I will always be a baby." Lilia explains.

Clara gave me a confused look. "We rescued her from an abusive family. Mom is fostering her." I explain.

"That's' a good thing." Clara says softly to me. Then turning to Lilia she says. "Your new mommy is right. You are a very big girl. Let's get to work."

"How?" Lilia asks.

I take three wash cloths out of the cabinet and get them damp. Handing them out I lead the way to the hall. Clara shows us how to get as much mud out as possible. After we did all we could I suggested that we split up. I would run the vacuum and steam cleaner. Clara can mop the kitchen. And Lilia can clean the sink.

However Lilia argues. "I'm a big girl. Why can't I vacuum, mop or the other thing you said."

Clara stepped in before I could say anything. "But Lilia, Why would you want to do the floors when the sink is the most important and most grown up thing to do?"

"Really?" Lilia asks. We nod. "The sink is all mine! You can't have that job!" she ran to the sink. "Um... Anna Beth? What's the job?"

"To get the sink clean as mommy likes it. Wash all the food down the drain." I explain. I cringe as I call mud food again. "Climb up on the step up and start the job."

"Okay." Lilia agrees.