Pots, Pans, and Bubbles

Picture it, Childress, 2009. A mother and a daughter alone in their house when the daughter notices bubbles emerging from the dishwasher onto the kitchen floor.

I have always been the type of person to try to use what I have, but when it is time to go, it is time to go. I decided two weeks ago that I needed a new pressure cooker. Most of my friends don't use these to cook, but I was raised by a family that utilized this gem. I had finally decided to purchase a new one and the store was out. Bummer. Another store had them, but the price was exorbitant. I forgot about it. Then Sunday I was washing a pan and the Teflon came off. I also had a skillet with a two inch handle. I decided those were definitely unsafe so I jumped in the car to get new pots and pans. I found some beautiful new pans, as well as a new pressure cooker, and actually threw away the other old ones. Good move for me since I tend to hang on to stuff. (Like the pan that I melted the baby bottles in when I was boiling them is still in my cabinet.) Oh those memories... I digress.

A week ago Ciara had decided that she did all the work around here and didn't want to unload the dishwasher anymore. So I let her unload and load it and she got to pick which she liked best. She decided she liked loading the dishwasher. Sunday she loaded the dishwasher and I put several of my new pans in to be cleaned for the first time. A little later she came to me and said, "Uh, mom, there are bubbles coming out of the dishwasher."

Millions of bubbles and several towels later I discovered the reason for all the bubbles. She had used a half a bottle of Palmolive in the sink washing up hose dishes and two brand new SOS pads. Plus she put soap in the dishwasher. Those dishes went in the dishwasher drowning in soap. I know it is important to teach our children and to let them do things, feel a part of the family, responsibility, chores...but she truly tests my patience. Please help if you drive by my house some day and see bubbles squeezing out around the windows!