My goodness, he's still tiny! You have 18 years to train him to independence; you don't need to do it all in the first 3 years, or even 5. Let him be attached to you NOW, when he needs you, or believe me, you WILL raise a brat. Don't worry about it this young.

What I used to do with the girls when I washed dishes is, I'd get a thick towel folded once or twice, get a little dishpan with a little warm water, a little bit of nice smelling soap, and set them up at the kitchen table or on the floor (I suggest the floor since he's so little) with some play dishes--or anything that's clean and non-breakable. Sure, you'll have a mess to clean up after but a small one that may actually clean the floor a little. I would just take the towel and wipe the floor with it (use that level of towel) and it'd kind of kill two birds with one stone.

Does he have a broom of his own? Consider getting him a whisk broom. When mama gets out the big broom, he can have his little broom.

And mostly just remember that trying to do Flylady, or any kind of housekeeping, with a very young child is nearly pointless. You can always catch up on the housework. You can't catch up on your son; this time with him is one time around only. Enjoy your time together. These are the days you will call upon in old age.

Lynn Siprelle, Editor