My Tot's Got 44 Problems, But Sleep Ain't One

Oh, sleep. Why do you tease us so? We parents spend so much time on the subject of sleep, but never so much than when it comes to getting our children to go there. Kids don't always go down without a fight, and my daughter, who is usually a very (very) easygoing kid, is the queen of pushing the bedtime limits with a long list of problems (read: excuses) for why she simply cannot go to sleep. It never ceases to amaze me: just last night, after I put the kids to bed, I called a friend and left her a voicemail, and my child was suddenly standing next to me with the burning question, "Are you talking to the dentist?" Um, no, thanks for checking though, honey. Go. To. Bed! I've compiled a sampling of her pre-bedtime issues from just this past week, but I'm sure you've got your own to add!

1. She is not tired
2. Needs water
3. Needs more water
4. Needs to pee
5. Needs to poop
6. She forgot to wash her hands
7. Needs another kiss
8. Needs another hug
9. She forgot to tell me something
10. Has a very important question, which she forgot
11. She is hungry
12. She is scared
13. She wants the light on
14. She can't find her lovie
15. She can't find her Elsa Barbie
16. She can't find her Elsa Barbie's shoe
17. She's too hot
18. She's too cold
19. She wants to know what that noise is
20. She has an itch
21. She has a runny nose
22. Something hurts
23. She wants to know if she just heard me on the phone
24. She wants to know who I was talking to on the phone
25. She wants to know what I am watching on TV
26. She wants to know when I am going to bed
27. She wants to know what the plan is for tomorrow
28. She's bored
29. She wants to play for a few more minutes
30. She wants to read more book
31. She wants to sing one more song
32. Her jammies are really itchy
33. Her new jammies don't rest on her ankles right
34. The sun is still out
35. She wants something removed from her room
36. There's a bug in her room
37. She wants to know what is for breakfast in the morning
38. Oops, she totally forgot to hug her brother
39. The frogs are too loud outside
40. She wants to know if it's morning already
41. She wants to tell me that she wiped her toothpaste from her sink
42. Her American Girl doll is keeping her awake 
43. Her door is not open wide enough
44. She's just so tired 

Source: Flickr user allthecolor