Mommy's Little Helper

Warning: This is from the "Too Much Information" files.

As Jiro grows older and his personality becomes more developed, he reminds me more and more of my mother-in-law. She is one of the most helpful people I have ever met. She always goes out of her way to make sure everyone is taken care of. When we visit her in California, she cooks up a storm, does laundry, shops for all of our favorite foods, etc. Little Jiro is also a very helpful sort--especially when it comes to his big brother.

Jiro will often come into the kitchen and demand something like juice. "Juice!" he says, pointing to the top of the refrigerator. Once I hand him one, he will point again and say, "Satchel juice!" Then I hand him another one. He holds it close to his chest and runs to wherever Satchel is and says, "Satchel, juice!" This scenario is repeated several times a day. Whatever Jiro wants, he wants Satchel to have one too---cheese, vitamins, whatever. It's pretty cute even though Satchel normally responds with a "I don't want any _____!"

This rejection doesn't phase Jiro.

Oftentimes Satchel will wait until the very last minute to go make a "pee pee." He will run through the house screaming, "I need to go pee!" while holding his penis. This is usually my signal to stop whatever I am doing and turn on the light in the bathroom. (He is too scared to go with the light off, even in the daytime.) Jiro takes it as his cue to run ahead of Satchel and lift the seat up. Sometimes he even stands by the potty and waits for Satchel to finish so he can flush for him.

But that's not all.

When Satchel has to poop, Jiro will go into the bathroom and hand him books to read. When Satchel is done, he calls to me for assistance with wiping. (When do they learn to wipe themselves anyway?) "Mommy, I'm done!" he screeches. I go in and ask him to assume the position as I reach for a wipe. Once I wipe, Jiro comes behind me with his own square of toilet paper and wipes Satchel's butt too.

I swear.