While cleaning out the car…

Mr. Butterfly Herder: “Should I leave your hairbrush in the car?”

Me: “Why?”

Mr. Butterfly Herder: “Isn’t the passenger mirror the closest thing you have to “time for beauty and hygiene”?

Dramatic pause to show my hurt and disapproval and then…

Me: “Throw it in the glove compartment…

…and remind me to put some dental floss in there. “

Later, at a real-life, grown-up restaurant, which we had no business bringing the circus to, but were coerced by coupon…

Me to Mr. Butterfly Herder: “I feel bad. I think our friend bought us this gift card with the intention of you and I having a romantic date night, but we never used it so…”

Largest of the Lil’ Monsters: “Face it, Mama. This is the closest to romance that you and Daddy are going to get.”

Dramatic pause to flash the fire of my Mama fury and disapproval and then…

Me: “True. Let’s get wild and order dessert.”

Grateful 365: Passenger mirrors and gift cards. The only thing keeping romance alive in the Vokoun household.