56/365 Ni-Night

When Daddy says, "Ni-night."
It is not a suggestion.
It is not a yes or no question,
An invitation for refusal.

This rubber-legged flopping
Will only postpone the inevitable.
You've got much less weight to throw around than you pretend.
He can still lift you, you know
And once you're in there
You're staying.

Daddy does not fall for pathetic whimpering
Except for that one time
But don't think you're getting away with that again.
You throw your lambie across the room
Drop your sippy cup onto the floor
It stays there.

We do not have time for this
You need to sleep, now.
And your Daddy needs to enjoy
A well-deserved adult beverage
Put his feet up on the ottoman
And hear
Nothing

Let's have no peep out of you
Once this door closes
No requests for for milk
Or potty
No sudden screams
That get our hearts thumping
And worry the neighbors
What is that banging noise?
I thought we'd removed  all the good stuff
From the reach of your little hands

Oh, how nice.
The neighbors are shooting off fireworks
Again.
Just as you have finally drifted off to sleep
And you are now wide-eyed and trembling
Desperate to be held
Okay.
It's okay, baby.
Daddy's got you.
Here's your lambie
Let me fill that sippie cup with milk
I'll hold you.
Rock you back and forth
Rub your back
Whisper reassuring murmurs
To the matted curls on the back of your head

Snuggle in, baby.
Ni-night.
Here's your bed, now
Good girl.
Hug your lambie.
Ni-night.
Let me tiptoe out the door
Close it silently behind me
Ease back onto the couch
Take a long sip from this beverage
That was once cold
And just...

Seriously,
What now?