Maddie and I went in to wake Joseph up for school. He sat up in bed, yammering away about some detailed something as he took off his pjs. He gets up, still talking, strolls into the bathroom. I’m thinking, “I wonder what age kids start to want privacy?”

Maddie, who has just been standing next to me quietly, pulls me down to her level and whispers behind a cupped hand, “I was not listening to anything Joseph just said!” Joseph strolls back in, still talking, and gets dressed and walks out, still talking. Maddie and I look at each other and shrug, and follow him out.