I'm anal retentive about time. I've mentioned it before, but it bears repeating. I'm anal retentive about time.

My daughter, like most small children, does not share this fine attribute. What's the opposite of anal retentive? Anally unretentive? Head retentive? Regardless, whenever it's time to do something, she suddenly wants to do something else.

Example numero uno: In general, my daughter is a reasonably focused child, as far as five year-olds go. She's concentrates on her homework, and can watch TV intently for hours at a clip, if need be. However, if you're in a hurry, and need her to perform some errand on the other side of the house, it will take an eternity. All of a sudden, every object, dust mote, and imaginary object between her and the task-at-hand becomes distraction incarnate.

"Hey, I've never played with this wall before!"
"Ooooh, my esophagus! Wheeeeee!"

Without fail, when time is of the essence (always, no?) the mundane becomes extraodinary.

Example numero two: School mornings at our house are a constant battle to keep my daughter on schedule. I nag her to wake up. I nag her to get dressed. I nag her to pee and eat breakfast. Breakfast is the most annoying part. She'll sit quietly in front of her food until I urge her to take a bite. This process repeats until she's out of time and I tell her to get up and brush her teeth.

At that moment, and not one moment earlier, she furiously starts shoveling down her breakfast. I asked her the other day why she paws at her breakfast listlessly until she's out of time. Why only then does she begin to eat? My daughter contemplated this for a moment and then concluded, "Because that's when it's most delicious!"

Fair enough.