Obviate

Impossibly Early o'clock:

(boy comes bounding into bedroom)

Alex: Happy birthday Shane!

Shane: Aaarrrggghhh.

Alex: Come on, get up! We've got presents for you.

Shane: Ugh. Ok.

(I get up and I head for the bathroom)

(The boy had meant for me to head downstairs with him - immediately)

Alex: Where are you going? You don't need to brush your teeth yet! You haven't got any plankton on them!

I smile. A good start to another year.