My little helper

Matthew has become quite a good helper lately.

He washes tables

He spins the lettuce for our salads.

And he helps load and monitor the performance of the washing machine.

He also loves to help me vacuum, lift heavy things, and set the table. The other day I was preparing dinner for us and for another family that had just had a new baby. I was getting close to finishing and Matthew kept opening up the dishwasher (which is a frequent occurrence everyday). I was trying to keep him occupied with other things so that he wouldn't keep grabbing the clean dishes or silverware or climbing on the dishwasher door while I finished up. Finally after some unsuccessful attempts I figured I would have to put him in the family room with the baby gate up so I could get the dinner finished. Right as I was getting him to put him there I realized that one of the forks he had escaped with from the dishwasher was on the table. Suddenly I realized what he was trying to do - he was trying to set the table. He had helped me with that a couple times before. I set him down and said "Matt do you want to set the table?" I held out some forks for him and he laughed and gave a big sigh as if he was relieved I finally understood what he was trying to do. He proceeded to put all the forks on the table in a little jumbled line and then was so happy. I'm glad I realized what he was trying to do and didn't just corral him up in the family room without letting him help.

Now whenever he knows dinner is almost ready he is the silverware guy and takes his "setting the table" job very seriously.