coulda...but didn't

Coulda washed the laundry
swept the floors
shook out the cover for the couch 


Coulda put away the weekend's laundry
the clean dishes (and the dirty ones)
put out the garbage
tidied up the last of the holiday decorations


Coulda started my reports
finished an IEP
cooked some dinner


Coulda...but didn't


Played trains for 2 hours
dressed as a wizard
sharing and taking turns
with a fuzzy tiger
while eating take out pizza slices
and sharing with the dog


Discussed the ABC's
intently for all of bath time
a very long add more water twice bath time
more intently that I'd anticipate at his age
apparently at "my ome boomer ome A dor apple mama"
but at "Sumi Auntie's ome A dor Amy, no apple mama"
and so it went.
Opinions about A,B,S, O and M 
very well established.
When did this happen?


Shared stories,
favourites,
like
How many trucks can a tow truck tow
Bob helps out
a wide selection of Winnie
and of course Waddle!
We must talk about that exclamation mark
EVERY single time.


Snuggled for baba time.
Argued about bed time.
Wrestled during the brushing of the teeth.
Snuggled some more.
Sang a bit
Baa Baa Black sheep was his request...
"but didderent colours mama"
I sang off tune on purpose
more than once
so I could be tutored, 
so he would demonstrate and sing sweetly to me
followed by 
"sing pop-ap-ly mama...try gain pees"


Into bed he went at 8.
Sleeping, I thought, at 8:30
when the piercing scream 
I'm being attacked scream
followed by hysterical wailing
began


Off I went, 
to fight off the monsters
lurking, 
apparently, 
in the pile of unwashed laundry in the hall.


Coulda done the laundry...but didn't
just put it behind my bedroom door.