What's That Thing? (A Commentary on My Homemaking Skills)

When Evan came home from preschool today, he noticed something resembling a small surfboard leaning up against the wall. The object was something that he had never seen in our home before. This strange object had fallen out of the utility closet during an attempt to organize in a rare fifteen minute window of opportunity afforded by the apparent brain drain, Baby Einstein. Immediately he asked, "Mommy, what's that thing? What's it for?"

What was this object of Evan's curiosity? An ironing board! I tried to explain the purpose of the ironing board to Evan, but he did not seem to grasp the concept. (Uncle B clearly has some work to do.) Instead he insisted that an ironing board was used when you go to the hospital. And, at the Pioneer House, he can expect pressed clothing to be the same sort of rare and grave event as going to the hospital.