Raising my Quacky......

So part of me is sitting at my desk exhausted and just wanting to sleep and part of me is starting to see the humor in the night's circumstances and smirking at the total love I feel for my quacky little duck.  So my ex-husband caused a sequence of events that he is completely unaware of just how many triggers he set off.  I'm not mad at him.  That's entirely not the point of this story.  I am hoping you can read it and giggle just a teeny bit.  He brought the kids to try on shoes and C (Whom I lovingly refer to as Quacky when some of his quirkiness is very very out of control) is an absolute OBSESSED child  when it comes to shoes.  HE LOVES SHOES.  That and getting his hair cut......both are causes of obsessive thinking and drive me to the brink of insanity, but it's one of his "things" and I get it....... I really do.  So ex-husband gets both of my children to pick out shoes (on a week night which is an absolute NO NO! - C is OBSESSIVE about shopping and I NEVER shop with him during the week because the story that follows is what happens, but dad doesn't have much familiarity with the quirkiness of our child and legitimately doesn't realize what he is doing is going to have extreme consequences .....but I digress) and then at the register says "You can cover this until Friday right?  Because if not, they will just have to wait until next week but I'll pay you back Friday" - with Quacky having new shoes in HAND.......RIIIIIGHT!  Like I had any choice in the matter.  I am not a parent that indulges whims or buys things to prevent tantrums in a store.  But I'm also not a parent that knowingly sets up a child to implode because I've triggered some of his OCD autistic traits and will not watch him come unglued over something which he truly doesn't have much control over and his father is completely clueless about what he has done.
 
That's the background to the exhaustion and smirking at the moment.
 
So last night at 3 am, C came into my room and asked if it was time to get ready to go to camp yet.  "Really dude? It's 3 am and dark out!  What do you think?  I'm sleeping, as should you - go back to bed"........3:30 am pitter patter back to my door (because I haven't fallen back to sleep yet from the last incredulous exchange)......"Mom, now is it time?"  "Sorry bud....still middle of the night.....go back to bed."     3:50 am........."Mom....." "C, I'm getting really annoyed and need to get some sleep.  I will come get you in the morning when it's time.  Go away please." and stomping off down the hall he goes......   4:22 - yup you guessed it!!!!! Quackasaurus Rex is back in my face and of course I'm awake because I'm doing all I can to not rip his face off........and light dawns on mommy's marble head!!!!!
 
"C, it's almost 4:30 am.  It is 2 hours before we need to get up and get ready.  But you are going to your room, getting dressed for camp and putting your  new sneakers on.  Then you are to go back to bed and I don't want to see you again until I wake you in the morning.  OK?"  Cherubic face beams!!!!! "Really?  I can wear my sneakers to bed?" "Yes C.  Just put on your sneakers and go to bed."
 
Of course there is no further sleep for me.  At this point, it is not quite dark as night out and Bobo, the rescue dog, has decided it's his job to bark at every bird, squirrel or dragonfly that might be an intruder into the space he protects for us.  By 6, C is up again, of course already dressed, and I told him to take the dog and get it out of my room and let me sleep for an hour.....watch tv....eat breakfast.....put the dogs out on their leads........but no you cannot go skateboarding outside or ride your bike with your new sneakers....I will get up at 7.
 
At 659 he came in to remind me that I had 57 seconds left to sleep. 
 
At 710 he comes in again and says, "What is taking you so long to get out of bed?  You are late and we are all going to be late! Why are you so tired?"
 
Sigh......"I don't know Bud......apparently I didn't get much sleep last night and I'm a bit slow, but let's just get this over with and I'll get up right now"
 
Ahhh yes!  The Joys of Parenthood!