Tuesday, October 06, 2009

Categories

We have discovered a comminucation problem within our household. The parents thought they were clearly communicating, but alas, they were not. Several weeks ago, we were cleaning out the feedroom of the barn. There is a large pile of miscellaneous lumber in there, and #2 wanted to use some for his fort. He asked if he ought to sort it, and I said yes that would be a good idea. When we returned from burning the straw and feed bags (Mr. Air Quality Man, you didn't hear that.), there was wood laying all over the yard in front of the barn. "I thought you were going to sort the wood?" He did. There was a pile of what he would like to use, but wouldn't be allowed. Another pile for what he wanted to use and thought he could get away with, and a third pile for what he was sure he could have. Each pile had plywood, 2x4's, long pieces and short. By then it was too late in the evening, and he just tossed it all back in the feedroom, hoping for better luck next time. Over the weekend I had the boys help me clean the kitchen and pantry. While I was cleaning the kitchen and doing some cooking, they were taking turns clearing off the pantry shelves and washing it down. Then they would put back the canned goods, etc. When I went to get food out of the pantry later, I was stunned to see what they considered "sorted and organized." Then I saw the method to their madness. In the front of the shelf were the fruits, marshmallow cream, and snack foods. Pushed over to one side and stacked all together in no particular order were all of the vegetables. Their categorization was important to them, not to the cook. Everyone has their own priorities.

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