So there we were, in the car, on the way home from school. The Bean happily singing to "Die Another Day" by Madonna and I was in the front navigating through traffic. She'd had fun at picture day and was happy in her frumpy dress.

"Daddy, I'm hungry."

Of course, the child had had three meals today. I explained how she couldn't be hungry again, already, she'd just ate at her Aunts, had lunch at school and breakfast at Daddy's. In typical five year old fashion, the subject changed. But the voice was very quiet.

"Can I have a box of cereal for Mommies?"

She knew we had an extra box of cereal because she'd conned my girlfriend into buying her Fruitloops (not allowed and she knows it). But, as I slowly drug it out of her, it seems her mother doesn't feed her breakfast. And of course, every morning, she drops her off for school at my sisters without mentioning this fact. When food is offered the usual response is, "Oh she had plenty." or some such variation of a lie.

Ah well, we got through that. The sister knows to feed her breakfast, dry her hair, put underwear and shoes on her if she shows up lacking any. Should she have to? I was under the impression that was a parents job. I'd like to make sure everyone understands I'm not trying to be overly bitter here, but if that were me and brought up to anyone, the answer would have been "Oh, typical deadbeat Dad not doing his job." If it's a Mom? "She must be busy trying to manage her life." Or some other sad sad excuse.

Back to the Bean.

We had Cider, but didn't get back early enough for Go Fish. Maybe tonight. This morning she made it known that little girls need more sleep than what she'd gotten and that she was going to sleep in the car so she could look pretty for school. I told her she looked pretty even without that extra sleep, but her snores made it clear she wasn't listening.

Another day of underwear and shoes for the Bean.