Ada Chen Rekhi
The Boiling Frog of Bedtime
Inspired by Ada Chen Rekhi episode
Bedtime was 7pm. Now it's 9:30. The frog doesn't notice the water heating - and neither do you when boundaries erode one degree at a time.
Ada Chen Rekhi tells this story about frogs. Drop one in boiling water, it jumps out. Put it in cold water and raise the temperature? The frog doesn't notice until it's cooked.
Bedtime was 7pm. Firm. Then one night: "Just one more hug?" Sure. Sweet moment. Then two more books. Then water, bathroom, different pajamas, the OTHER stuffed animal, another bathroom trip, water again but from the kitchen cup not the bathroom cup.
Now it's 9:47pm and you're lying on their floor while they narrate ceiling fan thoughts. You can't remember what firmness felt like. You've been out-negotiated by someone who thinks vegetables have feelings.
Screen time was educational content only. Twenty minutes max. Now you're in hour two of excavator videos. The tantrums you swore you'd never tolerate? They're scheduling themselves. You're the frog. The water's boiling.
Check the temperature before you're fully cooked. Reset while you still remember what 7pm bedtime looked like.
