Something's Up

I'm not really looking a gift horse in the mouth.  I'm not.  I just have to wonder what the heck is going on.

On Sunday, C was over for dinner, and she needed to have a private talk with DH and I, so we left the dinner dishes on the table.  When we came back in the room (just past 8), the table was clear, the kitchen was pretty well clean and the kids were both in bed with the lights off.  Now I totally understand them needing to fall asleep early, as it was Oktoberfest weekend and we all needed to recover, but Mavis voluntarily cleaned up from dinner.  It wasn't even her night!!  So of course I said "thank you" and she just said, "Oh, yeah. You're welcome." Like it was no big deal.

On Monday, Rupert remembered to say "may I be excused?" when he was done eating.  He also complimented the meal, but that's not terribly unusual.  "Thank you for remembering" says I.  The girl had to be reminded to do the kitchen, and even though I repeatedly discussed the recyclables, trash and compost she left hanging out in the kitchen, and even though she said she'd take care of it, she did not.  And Rupert came down after going to bed asking me to wash a load of clothes, because, as is his wont, he didn't really bring me all of his dirty laundry on Sat. and he wore the last of his clean clothes earlier in the day.  So, kinda normal there.

On Tuesday, Rupert thanks me for washing his clothes in time for school.  Then they get home from school together (no cheer practice), Mavis takes the trashy stuff out and sits down to work on an essay about breast cancer for health and one on MS for biology.  She discusses her research, and has me beta sentences out loud while I'm cooking dinner (WTF?).  Rupert announces after putting his stuff up in his room that he has math homework, and can't take Cosmo for a run until it is done.  "It'll take 30 minutes.  45 max."  And it does, and he does, with no nagging.  And again with the "may I be excused?" Then I mention to Mavis that it's her night for the kitchen again, and leave to pick up DH from work. When we get back, the kitchen is even more neatly cleaned than I was expecting, and she's finished with homework. I interrupted her phone chat to thank her for the nice job, which she sort of waved off with an, "Oh, sure."

I'm not complaining.  I'm just not used to it.  It's the kind of thing you always hear about, and wish that just once, your little angels would do for you, ya know?  So I got my wish and I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop.