‘Mummy! I am AWAKE!’
‘Mmmmphghs. fuck.’
Stumble stumble stumble. I glance at my watch. Ugh.
‘Amy. It’s still dark. Do you want to go back to sleep for me please?’
‘No. Amy is awake. We go in the loungeroom and watch TV!’
‘Ugh. Move over. Mum will cuddle you. Brrrr, it’s cold. Here, snuggle down and close your eyes.’
I climb into bed with Amy and close my eyes.
‘Amy does not want to close her eyes. Amy is awake. Hi MUMMY!’
‘Hi Amy. Here, come and have a cuddle.’
‘Okay. Incy wincy spider…. You sing it Mum.’
‘Mummy doesn’t want to sing. Mummy wants to go back to sleep.’
Amy walks her fingers up my head.
‘MUM! MUM! There is a spider on your head. See?’
Her fingers walk back down my face.
‘Amy, it’s not time to get up yet. Snuggle down and go back to sleep.’
‘But Amy is not tired.’
‘Mummy is tired.’
‘Are you tired Mum? Are you tired? Mum, mummummumumummm, are you tired?’
‘Yes Amy, I am tired.’
‘You going back to sweep Mum?’
‘MMmmrpgh.’
‘MUM! Are you sweeping?’
‘Mmmmmm.’
‘Is okay Mummy, Amy will sing. Incy Wincy Spider climbed up a… Mummy, is your turn now.’
‘Amy?’
‘Yes? Oh NO. MUMMY LOOK! There is a cat on Amy’s drawers. Don worry Mum, Amy fix it.’
‘Amy, get back here, what are you – DON’T put the cat in the drawer!’
‘Is okay Mummy, Amy come snuggle now. Cat is fixed.’
‘Go and get the cat back out of the drawer. It’s very naughty to put the cat in the drawers!’
‘Amy not get the cat out. The cat is sweeping.’ [makes snoring noises]
‘The cat is not sleeping, go and get it out.’
‘Amy not want to. Cat is sweeping. Amy is sweeping.’ [Makes more fake snoring noises.]
‘BING! Amy is AWAKE! C’mon Mummy, les get UP!’
Oh my god.
‘Come on then. Let’s get up.’
‘YAY! YAY! YAY! Is Isaac awake?’
‘No, Isaac is sleeping.’
‘Don worry Mummy, Amy will wake Isaac up.’
‘No! Leave Isaac alone!’
‘Isaac! Is time to wake up!’
Isaac cries, Nathan mumbles and I am UP! and AWAKE! with the kids at a godawful time. Is it too late to start today again?