Can I have a drink...

This is the request that many parents face on a nightly basis. The call which really can't be met with a "No". "So your child was dying of thirst and you refused them a few drops of water on their parched tongue and let them go to bed dehydrated and in agony?" That is the question you imagine being faced with if you were to say no. Of course as a parent you know this is a delaying tactic. A manoeuvre designed to delay the inevitable when they must close their eyes and sleep. This move allows them to engage you in conversation about any multitude of things that seem to take on the utmost importance in their brain at this time. So there you are like me making numerous trips to the fridge (I can't be the only parent who has a child who won't drink tap water) knowing that you run the risk of replacing the call for a drink for the call for the loo!