Carrie Link

DAILY GRIND

"Goodnight, Rojo," I say as I tuck him into bed. "Sleep tight. I love you, I'll see you in the morning."

"No, you'll see me at 9:52, remember?"
"Oh, yes, 9:52, see you then."
"Don't forget, OK?"
"OK," I assure.
Each night we have this same conversation, with the time I am to wake him changing occasionally. Nonetheless, each night he has big plans for when I wake him up. He will play basketball at the neighborhood school, by himself, he will get to be the boss of me, and he will get to play on my computer, all things verboten during his normal waking hours.
Somehow each night I "forget", and each morning he berates me before beginning the whole routine again.
"Tonight wake me up at 9:52. OK? Don't forget. OK? Promise not to forget, OK?"
We have this conversation approximately two million times between the time he wakes up, and the time he goes to sleep.
"Mom, can I have an Otter Pop while I watch TV on your bed?"
"No."
"Can I have an Otter Pop while I watch TV on your bed at 9:52 tonight when you wake me up?"
"Yes."
"THANK YOU! You are the best mom! I love you! You let me have Otter Pops at 9:52 on your bed! Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you. Now don't forget, OK?"
"OK."
"Mom, will you please stop being so bossy?"
"No. I am the mom. My job is to be the boss."
"Will you please stop being so bossy at 9:52?"
"Yes."
"THANK YOU! You are the best mom...."
And so on, and so on, and so on....