Its difficult to fathom the energy put out by two small children when they’re glad to see you. It’s like two tiny forest fires, and you’re glad to see it because it makes you feel appreciated, but you know in your soul that energy needs to be tamped down because left unchecked it will rage off into unexpected directions and there will be trouble.

So, their mother and I tamped it down, got it under control, shared bits of Valentine candy, made sure grandpa understood the rules, ordered pizza for dinner, because why not, and we settled in for the evening while the mother and father went off for a bit of rest and relaxation. Luckily, it was Friday movie night, and I was up for a good kid’s movie, because again, why not. We watched a movie about love among wolves and got a small lesson in class differences and a nice happy ending. In the end, I had two satisfied children snuggled up to next to me on either side, and all was right with the world.

They’re in bed now, because the eight-p.m. bedtime is an inviolate rule and I’m no fool, having raised the mother and her two brothers. I know how valuable a set bedtime is for the mental health of a parent and a grandparent. Now I’m sitting in the quiet of the front room with the dog asleep on the couch (no idea if that breaks a rule), and the cat watching me with suspicious eyes. I’m making notes as to how I can fill a day and keep two little ones happy while I try to survive one more night. I’ll post this tonight, and schedule it to show up in the morning, because I don’t want to be caught flatfooted when they wake up. I want to be ready, with at least one cup of coffee in me and my back to a wall so that I can see them coming.

John W. Wilson is the author of The Long Goodbye: A Caregiver’s Tale