The Final Tuck-In

In my house, we have this thing called the final tuck-in. It is the result of many years of failed strategies for getting our kids to bed. Essentially, the final tuck-in is a work-around, buying time for our kids to delay bedtime without consequence. Oy vay. Anyway, final tuck-in works like a charm (most of the time). It goes something like this: Kids dress and groom for bed, parents read stories then head downstairs. Meanwhile, kids are entitled to quiet awake time in their rooms until said final tuck-in time arrives. At the appointed time, husband and wife exchange looks, shrug, wife sighs resulting in wife striding up the stairs, two at a time, to drop the hammer. Kids climb under covers and hugs and kisses are proffered. The best part for dad is that he always gets out of final tuck-in. No matter how tender and present are his bedside renderings, the kids always ask for mom. Again, audible sigh.