The Power of Audio

I forgot to put my three nine-year-olds to bed tonight. They were listening quietly to the audiobook version of Rick Riordan’s The Son of Neptune after dinner, and I’d seized the break in household chaos to do some work. I knew they’d continue being very quiet while listening, as they are easily mesmerized by audiobooks, and Riordan’s various mythology-based series have been like candy to them. When I finally looked up at the clock, I started, remembered that I was a mother who had sons to put to bed quickly on pain of an agonizingly cranky day tomorrow, then dashed upstairs to get the job done. What did I find? Three boys who’d gotten into jammies, brushed teeth, and put themselves to bed. There they were, laying quietly in the dark listening to The Son of Neptune, hoping I’d forget them for another few hours. What did I do? A totally bonehead thing: I told them how proud I was then kissed each on the head, turned off the audiobook, and left, closely the door gently behind me.

Only at the bottom of the stairs did I realize what I SHOULD I have done: Tiptoed backward and pulled the door shut again, audiobook still on.

Phooey.