I take a deep breath in as I close the door behind me.

Quietly, slowly, I release the door knob and feel it catch.  I exhale as I tip-toe down the dark hallway.  I can feel the tension in my muscles start to relax.   With a growing confidence, I bound down the stairs, into the tranquility of the family room.  I pause for a moment, taking in the sweet sounds of . . . nothing.  I smile to myself.  Finally, some much needed peace and qu-

I must not have heard the door open, or the pitter-patter of little feet coming down the stairs.  I did not, and could not, however, miss the shrill sound of my youngest daughter, as her frantic call pierced the evening air.

“Daddy!!!”

For a moment, I try to ignore it, hoping maybe it will go away . . . but it never does.  Not last night.  Not the night before that.  Certainly, not the two other times this scene had already played out this very evening.

“DAAAAA-DDY!!!”

I feel the tension slowly crawling up my back and into my neck.  I turn slowly, and smile an exasperated smile.  “Yes, dear, ” I mumble through clenched teeth.

“I DON”T HAVE MY SNUGGIE!!!”  Her eyes swell with tears.  To a three-year-old, this is a real tradgedy.

With that, I scan the room frantically, until my eyes lock on the pink, fuzzy, frilly, shimmery, rose-adorned pile of fabric massed unassumingly in the corner.   In one fell swoop, I leap across the room, seize the blankie, scoop up the teary-eyed toddler and carry the dramatic duo back into the bedroom.

With snuggie tightly in her grasp, she curls up and finds a comfy position on the mattress while I tuck the blanket firmly around her.  I kiss her on the forehead, as the whimpers fade.  I head for the exit.

I take a deep breath in as I close the door behind me.  It’s like déjà vu . . . all over again. [Read more…]