Sometimes my kids catch me on a technicality.

Last night after an incredibly busy afternoon/entire day/weekend, Ellie asked me three hours before bed if she could have a snack.

Of course.

Why would last night be different from any other night?

Except last night was different because she had been awake later than usual, she had been busy all day, she had eaten within the hour and hadn’t showered or even started her mandatory 200 burpees prior to getting ready for bed and midnight sleepwalk scavenger hunt.

She showered (finally) after a lot of pulling teeth, oh and teeth, we finally got around to brushing those.

The clock was ticking and it was one of those nights we were up hours past our bedtimes, including mine.

We agreed to forfeit the second book (but never the burpees) and after Ellie insisted on me typing the lyrics to yet another of her soon-to-be greatest hits (lyrics below) she had run out of ways to stall.

She asked to be carried and even agreed it was carrier’s choice meaning I could throw her over my shoulder, hang her by her heels, piggy-back her or go baby monkey style, just somehow use my body in a way that would conveniently land her in her room while inconveniencing my weary bones.

I had attempted to wash my face but stopped before applying any cow udder cream to retreat back to the kitchen to finish washing a pot and a sink full of other dishes.

I heard the dryer ding “dry bitch dry” so I knew I would want to fold a few things prior to retiring to the bedroom where my pillow was calling my name, “Lizzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.”

I had to review copyright law before posting Ellie’s song lyrics, Chloe screamed from bed, “Mommy, do you know there’s blood in your eye?” and Hanna wandered out of her room delirious wanting to know what it meant to have junk in your trunk?

Another hour had passed, oh so tired, I felt like I did as a teenager when I would babysit for people who would come home at 3am and I had to pretend I had been awake the entire time but had fallen asleep the second Saturday Night Live finished and woke up as I heard them fumble to find a key that fit their front door lock.

That’s when I heard it, a tiny voice from a quiet, dark place, echoing down our hall, “Mommy, can I have my snack now?”

Ellie’s Song—Remember You

I don’t know where you need me, as long as I’m with you

It doesn’t matter where you want me, as long as I can remember you

‘Cause I know we were meant to stay together

Because we are perfect match

We are going to stay together

There’s nothing that can hold us apart

Even if there’s a wall in between, I can break it, you can break it, we’re meant for each other

Yeah…..

So, stay with me, forever.

I can live forever if I’m with you, oh yeah.

Yeah…..

Yeah, yeah, yeah.