Don't ask them questions
Straight after school
That's how it goes, the unwritten rule
I usually abide
As this rule makes sense
But today I said it 
And got my comeuppance
Tell me three words to describe your day
Poo, fart, bum
You quickly say
Laughing and laughing you run down the road
The three words saying back off in 5 year old code.

The anticipation of what will happen
When you get dressed
Is more than I can bear
This phase is going on forever 
And it’s one I can never share
With anyone 
As it’s first thing in the morning
Getting dressed for school
And it might not be a phase anyway
It might not be a phase at all.
Every morning you throw your pants about
You scream and shout
Complain about your leggings
You won’t put on your socks
They’re falling down
They’re itchy
They’re scratchy
I hate leggings
You’re not helping me
Stop helping me
We try getting dressed at the same time
But you yell You’ve got your pants on before me
And you collapse in a heap crying
I’ve tried getting dressed slowly
So slowly 
But you still don’t get dressed.
We’ve tried getting dressed in your room
In my room
With music on 
With music off
Downstairs, upstairs, in the bathroom
With me leaving you to it
With me saying I’ll meet you downstairs
Hurry up warmer weather, help me out
You lived in your £2 dress and pants last summer
So quick to put on without even a shout
But what if it’s too small now…
…this phase may not be a phase at all.

Did you know my laugh echoes in the darkness 
You say on a wet and windy evening
As we find ourselves in the desolate park
Your face beaming as you get on the swing
Oblivious to the depressing playground with not much in
And the cold, dark December feeling
The bit between Christmas day and New Year.
Wonky Donkey you shout
As I lift the swing higher and higher
And move it about to make it wobble
Your pink neon unicorn hat making its way through the air
You wee in a hedge
And we start walking home
With your laugh echoing in the darkness
The day before new years eve.
We spontaneously go to a pub 
For half a pint of lager and a packet of crisps
And an apple juice 
You make the man laugh behind the bar
Flicking up the ears on your unicorn hat 
And he says you’ve made his day
And I’m glad we ventured out 
To buy bin liners
And visit the park
Needing a break from the inside
On this dark, December evening
And we walk home, our laughs echoing in the darkness.