Afternoon Stretch

Working away on the supplements for a college psych textbook, a long project that's gone on since August. In the background, I can hear the music and dialogue for The Jungle Book, that ancient movie I first saw as a child. My 3-year-old likes it; we like to sing along to "The Bare Necessities"—or is that "The Bear Necessities"?

My 10-year-old's school bus will be here in about an hour, and then we'll begin the homework dance:

"Time to do your homework!"

"Not now-ow! I'm in the middle of a [computer] game."

"Five more minutes, then—when the timer rings."

"Ohhhhh-ka-a-a-a-ay."

Later: "Are you done yet?"

"Not yet, Mommy! I still have to do my spelling sentences!" [said in a tone that indicates that I'm an idiot if I can't figure that out from a room away]