I was packing for a trip the other day when my toddler comes into the room with her alarm clock. It was a gift from my brother and boasts a picture of Tinkerbell and a dead battery.

“We can’t forget to pack this.”

“Why do we need that?” I ask.

She looks at me, stunned. “So we don’t run out of time, of course!” she tells me in a tone which suggests this should be obvious.

In the suitcase it went. It’s always good to have a little extra time just in case.