Disenchanted

When I picked up the kids today Grace proudly announced that she was the new owner of a magic wishing rock.

Just in case I missed it she reminded me a few hundred times before dinner and bedtime, always ending with a stern, "but I CANNOT tell you what I wished for, or it won't come true."

Right before I went to tuck the twins into bed Grace whispered in my ear.

"Can me & Mia sleep in your bed with you tonight?"

She asks this almost every night, and as adorable as they are, I rarely say yes because, frankly, my bed is not exactly big enough for a slightly oversize mommy (me), a very close snuggler (Grace), and a thrashing-all-over-the-bed tornado (Mia). I told her I'd think about it.

When I came out of the twins' room Grace looked at me with a hopeful expression.

"Well?"

I sighed. "Sorry, sweetie. I really need a good sleep tonight, so we're all going to sleep in our own beds."

Grace's face fell. "Aw, dangit," she griped. "I guess I just wasted one whole wish from my magic wishing rock."

Feeling a wee bit of mommy guilt for denying her such a simple pleasure--and feeling oddly touched that, when given the option to wish for anything, what she wanted most of all was just to sleep in my bed for one night, I asked if that had been her wish.

"Not exactly," she muttered disgustedly. "I wished that you would always do what I want you to do. Forever. And I wished we could go to Disneyland. But since you're in charge of going to Disneyland I guess that wish is wasted, too."

The next few minutes were filled with Mommy trying to catch her breath between fits of laughter, and Grace's murmered complaints--"I KNEW that magic wouldn't work on you. Stupid wishing rock. Next time I am NOT wasting a wish on Mom."

When I finally caught my breath Grace said, "You can go ahead and put this on the internet. Because I know you're going to, anyway."

My smart, smart, magical little girl :).