I remember the days when I’d receive early morning kisses from the kids and they’d sport that sweet-smelling puppy breath. Somewhere after Year Two I noticed the onset of kiddie dragon breath. It was bad enough to make a Mama want to turn away her darling nippers.

It has been a wretchedly warm summer here in Florida. Payback for our gloriously warm winter, I’m sure. Sparky and Braeden have taken to walking Sarah Jessica Barker to the park and running her across the open field. When they return home, all three smell like what I imagine Rocky smelled like when he “went the distance” with Apollo Creed. For the love of monkey sweat, it sends my gag reflex into overdrive.

Thankfully, there is still one delightful reprieve. It’s called lavender bedtime bath. The smell of my wee ones, after wading in this intoxicating mixture, is a gargantuan slice of heaven.