Moms are the queens of fair not fair. It's part of their mom arsenal, given to them the second the water breaks and the labor begins. Sixteen hours in the hospital with you, young man, brought you into this world, et cetera.

She smiles softly, and reels the measuring tape back in with a snap.

"I know," she says, "and I appreciate it. Now maybe you can start to recognize that I need to do the same for you? Keeping you safe is my number one priority. And it always has been."

Standing back up, she makes one last note as to the model name and number of the sofa, and nods toward the beds.

"Lead the way."