Two nights ago, I was doing the usual “Viewing of the Bedroom Disasters,” a fun little tour I take before bedtime to remind everyone to put their dirty clothes into the laundry baskets, put all the clean clothes I’ve folded so nicely for them into the proper drawers/shelves/closets, and once their teeth have been brushed, to stuff their little and big bodies into bed, pronto. I try to keep my voice pleasant but by the time I hit Charlie’s room, my mood has usually soured and my directions come out cranky and loud. Hear Mama Roar!

The other night, I tripped over a pair of Charlie’s sneakers as I entered his bedroom. I was really steamed now……

“Charlie, pick these up and put them in the closet NOW,” I yelled. And because he took his sweet time to saunter from where he was stretched out on his bed covers over to the sneaker pile, I added, “Let’s go. One, two three!” I punctuated the one-two-three with an obnoxious clap-clap-clap. Without missing a beat, Charlie began clapping as well, and as he clapped, he sang out, “Cha, Cha, Cha!” He picked up the sneakers, cha-cha-cha, and, still singing, kept the beat going by wiggling his butt. He butt-danced and cha-cha-cha-ed to the closet and then all the way back to his bed. It was quite the show. Hilarious! I cracked up. Gone was my rant, replaced now by a fit of hysterics.

Still laughing, I proceeded to bedrooms three and four. Chloe’s room wasn’t bad; it never is unless it’s a tough homework night. When I reached Max’s room, I noticed he was already out of his bed sprawl, picking up laundry and straightening up. He looked over at me warily as I entered the room, “I’m doing it. Look, I’m doing it,” he said. “No clapping, no singing, no cha-cha-cha-ing, okay?”

Ahhhh…a new incentive. Keep it neat or you get the “Cha-Cha-Cha.” I like it!