For the last week or so, JP has been refusing to have me put him to bed at night, instead insisting that my girlfriend help him with his bath, brush his teeth, and read him a bedtime story.

The lazy part of my personality (AKA–70-75 percent, depending on how well I’ve slept) finds this development thrilling. The vegetable part of my evening starts that much sooner, and I get the satisfaction of knowing I’ve made my massively pregnant girlfriend put in a little extra labor at day’s end. Good stuff.

But there is a nagging uncertainty as to why JP wants her rather than me. I’m mostly happy with it–I want him to love and accept her, which he does. But I am the dad, I like my prerogatives, and now that I’m not wanted, I kinda want to do it.

And yet… sitting here to write this, at night, perhaps I’ll just insist on doing it tomorrow night.