Excuse #426 to Avoid Housework: Housework Causes Confusion

Today I had a full day of housework lined up for my free five hours, but unfortunately I didn't realize that today was the preschool end of school picnic. Although the picnic was wonderful and fun, I was left with very little time to do chores before the kids came home (and somehow that always seems to be the case). Still, I attempted to do a little straightening up with the time I had left since we are having company next week. When we arrived home from school this afternoon, Marty ran into the living room and then immediately back into the kitchen.

Marty (looking quite alarmed): "Mommy, there's nothing on the rug."

Me (I had taken off the slipcover from the couch to wash it): "You mean there's nothing on the couch?"

Marty: "No, there's nothing on the rug."

Me: "Do you mean something spilled on the rug?"

Marty: "No Mommy, come see."

We went together to the living room.

Marty: "See Mommy, there's nothing on the rug."

Me: "You're right Marty. There's nothing on the rug. That's what the rug looks like when Mommy cleans up the living room."

Later when we were coming in from playing outside, Marty eagerly pushed the door open and said "Let's see if there's nothing on the rug." But by then the kids had been home for more than two hours and had worked their magic in the living room. "No," he said in relief with a little smile, "There's not nothing on the rug."