This evening as the bath is filling with warm sudsy water, I popped downstairs to warm the baba’s bottles. From the kitchen I hear the lovely sound of  laughter from Jake and screams of delight from Ava.

I step from the kitchen to listen. More laughing. More screams. The sound of toddlers laughing is one of the most glorious sounds on earth!

I gather the bottles and ascend the stairs as I listen to belly laughs and screaming coming from our bedroom. I enter to see Jake flying headfirst into the soft faux fur blanket covering the bed. He lands and erupts in laughter as Ava is lifted and catapulted headfirst onto the nest of pillows.

As Darragh has been in Chicago for the past week, he is full of excitement and raring to play with the baba’s.  Unfortunately, he doesn’t see the importance of keeping things low key at bedtime.

We’ve spent 18 months trying to get the baba’s to sleep between the hours of 7 and 7. It’s now 6:45 and they are flying around the bedroom like little circus gymnasts. Unbelievable! I hear a Mummy scold flying out of my mouth and continue with my chores.

I tend to the bath and come back to the same antics I left. Although the three of them are loving their together time, I am dreading the tears that will ensue when they are too wound up for bedtime.

I issue my Mummy scolds again.
Me: “Who is the adult here?”
Darragh: “Clearly, you.”

Ugh! I’m fighting a losing battle.

I stomp downstairs to start dinner and drown out the anticipated cries.

Good Night!