1. Louise watches Alec dropping spoons into the bottom of the dishwasher and says: "That could be a schema." It seems that as children develop, they get very into a particular theme (downward trajectories, enveloping, transforming) and will direct a lot of energy into exploring it. If a person is observant they can spot the current schema and give the child activities that build on it. Alec is into so much at the moment that it's hard to look at the whole picture (particularly when you're trying to cook lunch and keep him from playing in the bin), and it's too easy to dismiss a lot of his activity as tinksing and mischief. But Louise's comment reminds me that some concepts of 'good' and 'bad' behaviour are more about my own convenience than about Alec's well-being.
2. Cupcakes because of the thick swirl of butter cream icing. We share a lavender one from the new patisserie on the High Street.
3. To clean the leaves of a dusty houseplant with a damp cloth.
