The hallway is that small room by the front door where you kick off your shoes and hang up your coat. During the day it looks perfectly normal — but at night, it becomes an obstacle course.

There are usually a few very logical reasons why dad trips and falls:

• It is dark. Dad does not want to wake anyone up, so he does not turn on the light. But in the dark, you cannot see the shoelaces and toys lying on the floor.
• The shoes are in the way. Someone left them in exactly the right spot — meaning exactly the wrong spot.
• Dad is tired. Tired legs do not lift as high. That is when the tripping happens.
• The floor can be slippery. Especially if rain or snow came in with his shoes.

This teaches us two things: it is a good idea to put your shoes neatly in a row, and it is worth turning on a light even if you think you are being quiet. Nobody is quiet when they fall over.

Next time you hear a loud thump from the hallway at night — that is dad. He is fine. He just forgot about the shoes again. 👟💥