Count to 6 for me

I got a little laugh from an occurance last week that I need to set up with some background. Norman received his Master's degree in Dec. 2005. As he took a class or two a semester, he found it best to stay at the office to study, but would at times study at home in our spare room. When he would study at home (or even when he sometimes works from home), I'd keep the kids away from the room & they could even be fooled to believe that he was gone and not at home.
Fast forward to when I returned to school. I did not have an office to stay late at & to stay at school to study just wasn't easy to do. So, I studied at home most of the time. My one complaint was that the kids seemed to sense that I was still at home (I too would try to trick them by beginning a Saturday study session before they were even awake and Norm was at home) and knock at the locked door for me. After ignoring the knocking (I was supposed to be gone you know) I would give in and ask what they needed. After 2 years of this, I just would answer them right away and not even pretend I wasn't in the room.
Well, last week was a busy one for me with 2 exams one day apart to prepare for. On Thursday night I was busy studying for exam #2. There was a knock on the door. I answered, "Yes?" It was Cory. "I need you to do something for me," he said. Me (a bit stressed, tired, & grumpy): " Can you ask Dad to do it?" Cory: "No, he's working (Norm had brought some work home with him)." Me: "What am I doing?" Cory: "You're just studying." Me (chuckling to myself): "What do you need?" Cory: "Count to 6 for me." And I counted to 6 for him. (He's working on his personal fitness merit badge & needs to keep track of his heart rate after excersize)
Lessoned learned: Sometimes only a Mom can count to 6 for you.
And even if it's slightly annoying that I'm interrupted frequently while studying, I need to be there for my kids even if it's a little thing they need.