"Dad, I Stayed in My Bed"

This morning at 5 something, I was in our walk-in bedroom closet picking out a suit and tie for the day, when the closet door opened. There was my Madge-Pie. She had little bags under eyes and puffy eyes. She had a big, blond bed-head. She was standing there in her little undies. With an excited look on her face, she quietly announced to me the good news, "Dad, I stayed in my bed through all the night!" I gave her a pat. "Good job, Madge. Now, let's get back to bed." Off we stumbled through the dark, she to her bed and I to work.

Ahhh: the little victories of parenting.