Nothing wears you out faster, or frustrates you more, than the inability to help the kid (or sleep). This evening, despite the miserable hour, I'm looking at my daughter with affection rather than irritation.

And it's Steven Curtis Chapman's fault. A song from his new album, "Cinderella," reminds me of how relatively little time I have with my daughter, and how precious this time is.

Here are the lyrics:

She spins and she sways to
Whatever song plays, without
A care in the world; and I’m
Sitting here wearing the weight
Of the world on my shoulders,
It’s been a long day, and there’s
Still work to do, she’s pulling at
Me saying “dad I need you,” there’s
A ball at the castle and I’ve
Been invited, and I need to
Practice my dancin’,
Please, daddy, please

Chorus:
So I will dance with Cinderella,
While she’s here in my arms,
Cause I know, something the prince
Never knew;
And I will dance with
Cinderella and I don’t want to
Miss even one song, cause all
Too soon, the clock will strike
Midnight, and she’ll be gone.

Well she says he’s a nice
Guy and I’d be impressed, and
She wants to know if I approve
Of the dress, she says “dad the
Prom is just one week away, and
I need to practice my dancin”
Please, daddy please

Chorus

Well she came home today, with
A ring on her hand, just glowing
And telling us all they had
Planned, she says dad, the
Wedding’s still 6 months away, and
I need to practice my dancin’.
Please, daddy please…

Chorus

If the video link doesn't work, Chapman has made the song available on his Myspace page. Click "Cinderella" in the player. This is the album version, so it's more polished than the live performance linked above.

Yes, it's sappy as all get-out, but that's what fatherhood has reduced me to, I guess.

Still, I'm sure my sudden burst of sap will diminish the next time my daughter decides to throw a temper tantrum.