In the throes of a fit of domesticity, I spent the better part of Sunday putting things right around my house. I feel much better today, because of the restored order, and a little moment I shared with my son.

I was standing at the kitchen sink, washing my 17-inch cast iron skillet. I was having trouble manuvering it with only one hand, and was cracking up, remembering a snippet of conversation from a dear friend.

"...I'm just so glad my husband isn't lazy like my old boyfriend. He was such a couch potato that I would have to whack him upside the head with a cast iron skillet to get him to move."

I chortled to myself, imagining myself trying to wield this skillet. I would have to handle it like a broadsword - it was a two-hand job for sure. I was enjoying the mental picture of myself dressed like Xena, Warrior Princess, hair flowing and "Ai-yi-yi-yi-yi!" issuing from my ruby lips while charging into battle with my giant skillet held aloft. When my son touched my arm and said "Mommy?" I jumped about a foot.

"Mommy, come here! I need to show you something!" He was excited, and was bouncing on the balls of his feet.

"Okay, let me finish these dishes, and I'll be right there," I said.

"Mommy, now! Hurry!" Clearly, this was something really big. I wiped my hands on the seat of my pants (classy!) and allowed him to tow me into the next room.

The late afternoon sun was sending sunbeams through the front windows. "Look, Mommy!" My boy spoke with reverence.

"Uh, yeah. Sunbeams. Cool." I was already mentally back at the sink.

"No, Mommy, come here... I will introduce you." He pulled me into a sitting position near the windows. He turned his face directly up into a sunbeam and said "Hello, Fairies! This is my Mommy." He turned to me and said "Mommy, say hello to the Dust Fairies."

I could barely contain my smile as I greeted the airborne proof of my inadequate housekeeping. "Hello, Fairies." I pulled my son into my lap, and we watched the particles dance, bathed in golden light.

My son turned his face to mine and as he snuggled into my arms, he announced "The Fairies came because I'm a good boy. And you're a good Mommy. We have a magical house."

I'm so never dusting again.