For REAL!

Tonight the Little Man was not in his best frame of mind, and because of that - neither was I. The bedtime routine was swift and too the point, complete with him refusing to give me love (a show of spite for my insisting that it was indeed bedtime). As I do most evenings, I retired to my computer after reciting bedtime stories x2, and forcing the Little Man to give me at least one hug and kiss (I have a rule that he needs to give and/or receive 'love' before I leave the room; he, on the other hand, vows that there are no rules in his bedroom...).

The past few weeks we've had some early mornings, some out the door before the crack of dawn mornings. Mornings where I have employed a trick taught to me by my sister - dress the Little Man in a clean shirt, clean underwear, clean socks, and clean sweats BEFORE going to sleep so he can get out of bed and roll out the door before the rooster crows.

Here I am, sitting quietly at my computer, when the Little Man enters my room. He is not dressed in the clothes he went to bed in. He's wearing a clean shirt, clean underwear, clean socks, and clean sweats. He then proclaims: "I think I should sleep in here...so I don't change clothes again." I rolled my eyes. Then he said: "For real!" Here I am annoyed by the behavior and attitude he shared with me early in the evening, annoyed by his mere presence during MY time at my computer, and I'm laughing. He starts laughing too, with his deep belly laugh (I LOVE that laugh!) and then pauses (as if it just dawned at him that while I think it's cute, I'm surely not falling for it) and says "I mean it Mommy, for REAL!"

I'm happy to say that he is now sound asleep in HIS room, a mere 10 minutes later.