Thursday, January 26, 2012

Learning to Iron

About a month ago, I pulled out my ironing board and gathered all the items needing ironing. I really don't like this task, so I waited for a number of things to accumulate. Now the basket was full, and I could not put it off any longer. I surveyed the items in the basket to see what order I should attack the job. I started to gather Marisa's button down collared shirts. There were 3 no 4, 5, 6 ... 8 all together! Well, here's something Marisa should start to learn, I thought. For work days Marisa likes dressing in what she was taught were work appropriate clothes. Tailored pants and button-down collared shirts are her choice for work attire. The problem, however, is that I have been stuck with the job of ironing all those shirts. So the time had come to teach Marisa a new skill, but going about it was not going to be so easy. It would have to be a slow and cautious process.

"You really need to learn to iron your own shirts," I started to say. "If you're ever going to live on your own, I won't be there to do it for you," I added as incentive. "Next time you do your laundry, we'll work on that. Okay?"

"Okay!" was the reply. I wasn't sure if she was taking this seriously.

Days went by. Then I heard, "I'm ready to iron!" There was eagerness in her voice. I was not so eager to approach this task. It was going to be difficult, but her enthusiasm was so refreshing!

I pulled out the ironing board and then the iron. I explained how to turn on the iron, fill it with water for steam and adjust it to the proper temperature for the fabric being ironed. That in itself was a lesson and one to be repeated over and over again until she would be able to show me the steps on her own.

"Okay, now we're ready to begin!" I said. Step by step I explained how to tackle the tailored shirt, one of the most difficult items to iron. I ironed one shirt slowly as Marisa watched. I figured if she could learn this, then she could iron anything! First the collar, then each sleeve, turning to do the other side. I ironed the placket and around the buttons and then both sides leaving the back for last. It was a slow process, but after I did one shirt, Marisa started with the second. I showed her how to hold the item while staying clear of the iron. Watching her was awkward and slow, but like anything else, learning something new takes time. She managed, with a lot of help to get through with that one shirt. Then I did the rest. I didn't want to push too hard and discourage her. Even I didn't want to iron 6 more shirts!

We're going to be working on this skill for a while. So what if it takes a long time! I spent nearly 2 years helping her learn to unlock the front door.  It was worth the effort and learning to iron will be worth it too. Marisa will learn to have a freshly ironed shirt ready for work each day.

Just the other day I heard a call from the distance.

"I'm ready to iron now! Will you help me mom?"

What more can a mother ask for?