monkey see, monkey do

(cross-posted to Welcome to the Twindig, our baby blog)

Last night I was sweeping up the floor food (food that is dropped, flung, or otherwise ends up on the floor during mealtimes at our house), which is always a challenge because the girls want to "help."  Usually this means they try to catch the end of the broom and try to eat food off the floor while I say no over and over.  So I was pleasantly surprised when Hadley picked up the dustpan, brought it to me, and tried to hold it where I was sweeping.  Adorable!  And like I said, while I often try to explain to them what I'm doing, the only thing I usually say when I'm sweeping near them is "No!  Put that down!  Please don't eat that!  No!" so it was kind of amazing to see how much they learn even when we aren't actively trying to teach them.

And because I'm thinking of it, I will share Nolan's List of Top Ten Sweepable (and Not-So-Sweepable) Foods:

1.  Banana.  Not sweepable.  In fact, if it is not immediately removed from the floor by hand, it will melt and then harden into a sort of goopy, permanent lacquer.

2.  Rice.  Not sweepable, although the sweepability of this particular food (unlike banana, see above) does improve with time, but the amount of time it takes to stop sticking to your floor is kind of lengthy, and in the meantime, you might be embarrassed if you have unexpected company.

3.  Broccoli.  Not terribly sweepable, unless left on your floor for an unimaginably long time (like days).  Even then, it just gets kind of rubbery.

4.  Pasta.  Some varieties of short pasta are more sweepable than others.  Long pastas, such as spaghettis, should be illegal to serve without a fork, even to young children.  It does become sweepable after a short length of time, however.

5.  Bread, biscuits, etc.  Very sweepable.  Unless...it has been chewed and then spit back out.  See banana above.

6.  Cheerios.  The world's most sweepable food!  Unless...well...see bread above.

7.  English peas.  Even when freshly dropped, these little beauties are easily retrieved with a broom.  Their sweepability improves with time; however, caution must be used to ensure stray peas do not roll into remote  corners.

8.  Mango and other fibrous, juicy fruits such as pineapple.  These guys are not terribly sweepable, and in fact, are difficult to remove from most surfaces, including shirts, dresses, and diapers.  Time actually makes these fruits more difficult to remove.

9.  Milk and juice.  Not sweepable, and make other foodstuffs unsweepable as well.  Time is not your friend when it comes to milk and juice spills.  Not.  Your.  Friend.

10.  Blueberries.  They're round and they roll, right?  Totally sweepable...unless...they have been smashed in half or an attempt has been made to eat them by sticking one's finger into the center or the insides have been sucked out and just the skin is tossed aside.  Otherwise, not only are they sweepable, but could theoretically be rinsed and served again.  Not that I would do that, of course...ahem.