Both kids woke up crabby today.

We are out of cereal and oatmeal this morning, so I told them that I would make pancakes if they unload the dishwasher so I could clear out the sink so I could clean out the skillet. They ignored me while they watched some Animaniacs.

Five minutes later, again, I asked them to please unload the dishwasher. Silence.

15 minutes later I'm finishing my first cup of coffee. "Can I lick the pancake batter spoon?" Ben asks.

When I explained that I haven't even started with the pancakes yet because they ignored my request to unload the dishwasher there were various kinds of whining and crying and pleading.

"You unload the silverware first Ben, and then I'll do my part."

"You do it first! Not your job to tell me what to do!"

"I always do it first! Stop pulling me!" etc., etc.

Finally, they do their job and I start to unload the sink full of dishes into the dishwasher.

Ben asks, "Can you make the pancakes now?"

"I need to clear out the sink first so I can wash the skillet."

"Why don't you just go to a garage sale and get a new one so you don't have to do that?"