“Is it morning?”

Not yet, it’s 3 am, it’s sleep time still.

“Can I go downdairs?”

It’s 5 am, let’s rest a little longer.

“Mom, will you snuggle me?”

“Mom, I’m hungry.

“I don’t know what to eat.”

“Can you fix this for me?”

“Can I have a cookie?”

“Snuggle me, Mummy!”

“Can we go outside?”

“Can you help me zip?”

“I need a bandaid and a kiss!”

Let’s go inside, it’s time to make dinner!

“I don’t like chicken.”

“Can I have ice cream?”

Show me your plate. You need two more bites of everything and then you can have ice cream.

Ok, let’s get cozy, it’s almost time for brushing teeth and bed!

“I don’t want to go to bed!”

“I don’t want to brush my teeth.”

“I don’t want to put pjs on.”

“Why do you get to stay up?”

Silence.

Relief. Bittersweet.

I don’t want them to grow up and leave.