This poem made me smile as I can imagine or the first thing I did was a little kid or teenager. The mess is very child like but I love how you wrote about something so simple. I love the question you ask here though. No I don't believe it is ever too late for pancakes at all. I love the imagerythough. Like the mother creeping down thestairs to check up on the girl. The smell is detailed well as is eeverything haha. I love how you said smoke alarms don't hold your secrets meaning you cooked them well. The ending is so great as well. More child-like then ever. You lost all the maple syrup and not you are sad. I loved the fresh wording you used and what a great idea and title.