Trouble is up!

 "Poor elemen

Elemen got boo-boo

Poor elemen

Elemen pink

Elemen go walkie?

Dora come

Elemen go

Dont cry..

Dora cry..

Mommy! Mommy!"

"Argh! Why is there a child in our house?!" Peter groaned in the master bedroom. Neil was not the types to stir.

"Someone please stop the cries!"  

Peter's request went unanswered. 

"Mommy  Elemen

Mommy Dora boo-boo"

" Oh! That's my child!" Realization hit Peter. 

Parenthood was new to Peter and Neil. Eight years of paperwork after revolution, Yes votes. Even more effort into being recognized as responsible parents. The savings needed. Neil had bit down the humiliation and stayed in his job just for Dora. Somewhere in the fight, Peter forgot the end goal. He was not ready to be a mom. Neil loved children. He loved Neil. But your own child? That was so far from his own comfort zone.

"Ma..... ma.. ma..."

Marriages are just painful. Where was the partnership when you really needed it? Peter was groggy and irritation was waking up in him before his brain was. He saw the clock turn the numbers to 3:00 AM.

"Why 3:00 AM?!

Do children come pre-programmed to wake up in the devil hour, or are the horror movies real?"

Neil, snored. Peter knew his sleep was now a dream. He sighed. Accepting his reality. Not all acceptance needs to come with grace.

The cries were now in F-sharp.

"Alright. Alright!" 

Peter stepped onto what he thought was solid floor, but the sharp pain shooting up his foot said otherwise. 

He screamed matching Dora's F-sharp. 

"Fucking Danes and their god-awful Legos!"

His curses followed him to Dora's room.

She stood holding the slats on the crib. Her big beady black eyes in their narrow eyelids held just one drop of tear precariously. Her straight black hair, messy with the stirring in the crib. She held her pink elephant in her right hand. Her pink and blue onsies matched the bedsheets dotted with elephants.

At the sight of Peter, she resumed her cry.

"Mommy mommy Dora boo boo"

"Yes sweetie, mommy is here." Assured Peter picking her up. In his half draped navy robe Dora found a spot to snuggle. Her snot warmly dripped onto Peter's shoulder.

Strangely Peter didn't mind. Eight months on, Dora finally had chosen to call Peter and Neil mommy. Both were happy with just the acceptance. Whatever the parent they were, she was finally their daughter.

Tonight he was happy that all he had to do was hold her. And soon Dora fell asleep in her mommy's arms.

"Yes sweetie, sum of all my troubles you are. Now go to sleep."

Peter was a happy mommy.