Sometimes, even the best of intentions can crash and burn.

"My head feels like it's full of soup."

John took out some fresh clothes for his shower. "That's not good."

My eyes focused on the clock. 11:09. Swinging my legs over, I stumbled out of bed. "I'm going to check on her one last time."

Making my way to Sprite's room, I stopped first to make sure the exterior doors were locked and the alarm was set. Once the perimeter was secure, I was able to focus on getting all the occupants down. Slowing down at Sprite's door, I peeked through the window slots.

Sprite was still awake. Watching John's iPod Touch. Again.

"Sprite, it's way too late. You should be asleep," I cautioned, opening her door.

"Mommy, I watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse." Her eyes never left the screen. I could hear the first notes of the Hot Dog Dance beginning, confirming the show was almost over anyway.

I held my hand out as I approached, her visual warning that the item she was currently coveting would be leaving her posession. As I took it from her, her face began to crumble in sadness. No Rock of Gibraltor, this one.

"Mommy, I want to watch Daddy's Phone!" Her eyes squeezed shut, her legs kicking out at the blanket covering her body. "I want it!"

"Sprite, it's too late. You should have been asleep hours ago. No more Daddy's Phone at bedtime."

Opening her watery eyes, she glared at me and drew in her breath. I knew what was coming next.

"I WANT DADDY!"

I leaned over to try for a kiss and failed as she fretted over her father, or rather the loss of her father's toy. Walking out with the confiscated item, I returned to our room, depositing it on my bedside table. "No more Touch for her at bedtime. This is the third time I've found her awake with this thing."

John was already getting out of bed while listening to wailing on the monitor. "Jen, why did you take it from her? She's upset now."

"Do you see the time? She should be ASLEEP now."

I followed him back to Sprite's room where he consoled his daughter's tears and whispered good nights to the child who could do no wrong. Her retorts reduced to sniffles and yawns and we retreated once more to our room.

"What harm does it do anyway?" he asked, picking up the clothes he had dropped on the bed during her siren wail.

"She's going to sleep too late. It makes her cranky in the morning and hard to wake up. It's just not healthy."

"But she's quiet."

"And awake."

John rolled his eyes and disappeared into the bathroom. "Fine. No more."

Ten minutes later, he walked out and over to my side of the bed.

Looking up from the round of Bejeweled I was playing, my eyebrows raised in question. "What?"

"Do you think maybe the fact that you wanted to play with it yourself had anything to do with taking it away from your daughter?"

"No, she should be asleep anyway. One has nothing to do with the other."

"I thought you weren't feeling good."

"I'm not."

"So go to sleep."

"Right after I finish this level."

"Uh huh. Right."

"It's not the same, John."

It's not!

(Birthday re-cap to come! Still trying to come down from the sugar high!)

Comments

[Rachel]

hee hee. I can't decide whether I want one of those things or not. But if they're that good, perhaps not!

[kyooty]

oh it's totally not the same I agree!! having those electronics in bed is just setting them up for bad habits just like yours.

[Jan]

Nope, not the same at all. Does John get Sprite up in the mornings after one of her late night dates with his phone?

[Pippa]

So not the same... and its not like we do the same in our house or anything!

[Michele]

It is so not the same. Sprite is a child and you are an adult. That's why you can get your dessert before your entree. Age has some privileges.

[Robin]

Like daughter, like mama! :)

[Maureen@IslandRoar]

Hey, you're a grownup; you've Earned the right to stay up late and waste a little time...

[jenni]

it was after 11. she should have been sleeping. i'd have done the same thing.

[WickedStepMom]

Poor John! He can't even play with his own toy!

[mrsbear]

It's completely different. It's also one of the reasons we refuse to put a TV in the kids' rooms. They'd never go to bed. It's okay for Sprite to get upset every now and then. I'm pretty sure snatching the iPod wound cause any lasting damage. ;) 11:00 huh? Those mornings must be rough.

[Stacy (the Random Cool Chick)]

It's absolutely not the same thing. And I bet you weren't even contemplating playing bejeweled until after you confiscated the phone...right? ;) Besides, she really should have been asleep HOURS before - and since you have to deal with the fall-out in the morning, you should have the final say. ;)

[Pseudo]

My husband used to buy our hyperactive son a donut on the way to school when he took the kids. The teacher would call ME when son was out of sorts and the first thing she would ask was "did your husband drive the kids to school today?"

[Gretchen]

Oh my. I could totally have written this post. My son and I have a constant battle over my iPhone. I keep telling him "It's a phone! Not a game!" Then he catches me playing Word Warp and my argument is all shot to hell.

[Erin@TheLocals Love It]

My husband sits in bed and plays games on his phone. Drives me nuts. Can't wait for the birthday recap.

[Mama Badger]

I love the "but it keeps her quiet" defense. Sounds like our house.

[Vandy]

There are times when quiet is all you want. However the mommy in me can't sleep until the kids are asleep so bedtimes are sacred in our house. But given the option my son will fight sleep to watch a bit more TV, he can outlast us.

[Jenny]

hmmm. I agree with you about no iPhone anymore, but I also agree with John about going to bed if you are sick. :)

[Petra aka The Wise (Young) Mommy]

You are absolutely in the right, a toddler should not have an ipod in bed at 11:00 at night! (and you deserve another round of Bejeweled anyway, lol)

[K]

I think there is a big difference.

I love being a grown up and making the rules.

[The Stiletto Mom]

Totally not the same. And even if it was, Mommy always wins. :)

[Heather]

Gotta take hubby's side this time.

Children learn from their parents by words and example.

[Lisa @ boondock ramblings]

I'll defend you Jen. It's not the same. I agree with you.