I’ve mentioned before how much time I spend in the car with the kids. Between the hour in the morning and the hour in the evening, you’d think that my kids would by now know what I can and can’t do while driving the car. After all, we’ve been doing this for over 5 years now.

And yet, here is a sampling of the things I still have to repeat each and every day.

• No, I can’t reach that, my arm isn’t long enough.
• No, I cannot read that book, I’m driving the car. 
• No, I cannot look at your funny face, I’m driving the car. 
• No, we cannot listen to “I’m a Little Teapot for the 16millionth time. 
• No, I cannot read that book, I’m driving the car.
• I’m sure your picture is beautiful, but I can’t look now, I’m driving the car. 
• Please stop fighting over that baby doll.
• If you don’t stop fighting over that baby doll I’m going to get mad.
• Seriously, that baby doll is about to fly out the window. 
• No, I cannot read that book, I’m driving the car.
• No, I can’t reach your book, my arm isn’t long enough. 
• Yes, I see where your doll fell, but again, my arm just doesn’t reach that far. 
• I’m happy to read you that book when we get home, but right now I’m driving the car. See? My hands are on the wheel and the trees are flying by.
• You cannot have noodles for dinner if you had noodles for lunch. Did you have noodles for lunch?
• No, I cannot read that book, I’m driving the car.

One day C will be able to read for real. That day will be amazing; I’ll only have to explain the issue with the length of my arm. Trust me, it’ll be a relief.