mom goes on strike

i know my mama wanted to do it. (she actually did it successfully several times.) my grandmother probably wanted to do it. i am joining the ranks of the disgruntled rank and file. i am on strike. there has been a pot half full of soy sauced rice in the sink for a few too many days. leftovers in rapidly expanding containers are beneath cutting boards and frying pans. and then they made cookies. how many moms have left the house as their teenagers prepared to bake, only to turn and say, "clean up after yourselves?" raise your hands! mine is up! and so is the proverbial jig. this beleaguered lady of the house has had enough. i am not cooking until my children wash the dishes. i put every last dish in the sink, replaced the minor appliances, and wiped down all the surfaces. it actually looks fairly decent. lots of workspace, not a thing out of place. but the big knife that i use to chop all of our vegetables is pinned beneath three saucepans, a cutting board, and a frying pan. those saucepans come in handy, too, when you want to cook dinner. tonight was night one. they did not go to bed without dinner, as i am certain that at least some of that overflowing pile were used in the pursuit of semi-standard nutrition. there were eight eggshells on the counter and an oily frying pan. somebody ate something! they always do. dr. welty told mom when we were children that when we were hungry, we would eat. (never a problem for me.) the little known corollary is, "when they are hungry, they will clean."
we will see how long it lasts.
lovepeace
heather