It was 10pm when Isabelle told me she forgot she had homework.
Her bedtime is 9:45.
Part of me wanted to say, “It’s too late—you’ll have to turn it in late.”
But I didn’t.
Instead, I sat down next to her and helped her through it.
It took four minutes. Maybe less.
And I’m glad I didn’t get upset.
I’m glad I didn’t push her off to bed with that anxiety hanging over her.
Sometimes the solution is simple.
And sometimes it’s about what message you send in that moment.
That I’m here.
That we can get through this quickly.
That forgetting something doesn’t mean the night has to end badly.
Should I have sent her to bed?
Maybe.
But I didn’t.
And it felt like the right kind of small win.
Four Minutes
It was 10pm. She had forgotten about her homework. I almost sent her to bed—but instead, I sat down and helped. Four minutes later, it was done. And the night ended calm.
