I've got a pocket full of kryptonite.

One day in the not-so-distant future, Kaila will be sent to school wearing only underpants. Unless -- an unmasked superhero intervenes and foils my sinister plan again.

Why would I send her to school sans clothes, you ask? Sometimes, kids need to learn the hard way.

Every night clothes are laid out, showers are given, books are read, Doobies are put to bed. Every morning, breakfast is fixed, lunches are packed, beds are made, teeth are brushed and kids are hurried out the door to catch the bus. I don't put a lot on my kids, but I expect independence where it makes sense and when they've proven themselves capable. At minimum that means putting on socks, underwear, pants, shirts, shoes. But, today: no dice.

Kaila was feigning undies-incompetence. She had forgotten how to don her drawers despite my morning mantra, "Tag goes in the back by your butt. Tag goes in the back by your butt. Tag goes in the back by your butt." (It's so catchy. How could anyone forget?) She had both legs through a single leg hole and was befuddled. I was befuddled, too. How could anyone fit both legs through one hole? I was also exasperated and starving. A morning spent dressing Kaila is a morning with no breakfast for me.

I looked at the clock. We had five minutes to get out the door. Tardiness was Madan's kryptonite. I seized the opportunity and lured my little Superman into action.

"Madan, you are going to miss the bus! Kaila won't get dressed."

"WHAT? Why don't you go help her?!??!?"

"I am done helping her. She's in Kindergarten. She should know how to dress herself!"

"MOM! We are going to be LATE! GO HELP HER!!!"

"Why don't YOU go help her?" I responded.

"Okay!"

I was hit by a gust of wind as Madan flew up, up and away to rescue his sister from butt-nakedness. Of course, I trailed him. I had to see what was going down. He was standing in Kaila's bedroom, trying to coach her into clothes, offering whatever assistance was needed to save her from my diabolical plan of depositing her at the bus stop in her birthday suit. Suddenly, in the nick of time, underwear was righted, pants were pulled up, a shirt was buttoned down. The damsel was no longer in distress. Instead, she was dressed! (She was pissed, but she was dressed.)

Madan saved the day. But now, every morning, Kaila will be waiting for Superman. Luckily, I've got a pocket full of kryptonite.