I need all the help I can get.

I bought Elijah some new pyjamas last week. It's our yearly ritual each October - his school throws a big pj bash at the end of the month and his pj's from the previous year are usually worn out or stolen by his little brother. This year I got him some very cool computer-themed pj's, knowing how much he'd like them. What I didn't count on was what a pain laundering them is turning out to be.

"Mommy, did you read the label on my pyjamas before you washed them?"

"Um... no, I didn't... you mean there are instructions for that sort of thing??".

"Mommy!!! You're supposed to turn them inside out before you wash them! Did you turn them inside out before you washed them??".

Of course not. I do well to remember to add the soap, turn the machine on, and retrieve them from the washing machine before they grow moldy. Turning inside out is not part of my laundry vocabulary.

Then comes the lecture...

"Don't you think if they say to turn them inside out, you should turn them inside out?"

Sigh. "Yes Elijah. Next time I will do my best to remember to turn them inside out."


He wasn't appeased when I pulled them out of the dryer right-side out and they were in pristine condition. I'm sure he was convinced they would fall to pieces the moment he put them on.

Fast forward a couple of days... Elijah came to me after getting dressed.

"Mommy, my pyjamas need to be washed. I turned them inside out for you so you don't have to remember to do it."

At least he was gracious about it and didn't say what was really on his mind.

He takes after his father, that's all I can say. I am highly outnumbered in this house!!