2 Tablespoons

Hope made pancakes for supper tonight. She wanted to do them all on her own, and she pretty much did. I was working around her on other projects. **ahem**...making sure she didn't burn the kitchen down. Or worse, crack eggs onto the floor. Yes, that IS worse than a smoldering kitchen. Have you ever cleaned that up on a wood floor that has little cracks between the flanks?

Mom: I don't think you put the oil in. You need 2 tablespoons of oil.

Hope: Where's the tablespoons?

Mom (playing therapist and trying to teach the child to solve her own problems): Hmmmm. I've never been in this kitchen before. I have no idea where the measuring spoons are!

Pause - Ok, I understand why smaller children do this. Toddlers who do not yet know how to carry on a conversation, yet want to converse with you, will ask the same question over and over and over and over again. Even though they knew the answer before they asked the first time. They just want to talk. But aren't hip on what a real conversation is like. But my 8 year old? Why does she constantly ask questions that if she would just take half a second to think about, she knows the answers. She's helped in the kitchen THOUSANDS of times. Besides, there are 2 drawers. 2. Even if she had never been in there before, it's not like they were lost in the vastness of our kitchen. I'm not exaggerating one bit, people. 2 drawers.

Back to the kitchen - After just a minute I turn around and see Hope with her 2 tablespoons of oil. I busted out laughing. Wait, let me get the camera! She stood there looking confused. I laughed on. And told her she'd be the subject of my post tonight. Can you see the 2 tablespoons? I know it looks like she is all Vanna-like displaying her genuis idea, but she's actually throwing both hands out and looking at the stove in complete confusion. She can't figure out why it's so funny, and what exactly I'm taking a picture of. Who is her teacher, anyway?