Kimi, my 7 month old, isn’t sleeping through the night. She wakes at least once, often twice and occasionally thrice each night. Sam graciously lets me sleep through it all. I don’t know how many times Kimi woke up until the next morning when I stir at 7. If Sam begins waking up with me then Kimi woke up once. If Sam says “What time is it?” in a drowsy/annoyed tone Kimi woke up twice. If Sam doesn’t move or speak, it was a thrice woken up night. That’s the system we’ve worked out.

On the once or twice woken up nights I have the clear choice to render service or to be selfish. The choice is always there. Our other children need endless assistance to get breakfast, find their shoes, backpacks, homework and jackets and leave for school. On the thrice nights service is mandatory.

It’s 7:30 now. I can hear jumping children and the first bickering of the day. I’ve got a choice. I can wake Sam and tell her it’s time to get to work or get out of my chair and start cooking breakfast. So many choices every day.

And the photo? I couldn’t think of anything to write about the photo.