****When I received the tweet this morning (Saturday, the 24th) about someone's child reading their bedtime poem, it blew my mind somewhat. Seeing the reading-writing connection coming alive made me see that, perhaps, I had misplayed this weekend's challenge. So, freshly inspired, I have created a new, second post
here. If possible, I would like my daughter, Leah, to read this new poem....just like PolysyllabicProfundities son did on hers. Bringing our words to life is a wonderful thing. Please check out the original video on my new post.
****ORIGINAL POST BEGINS BELOW********************
This weekend's
Trifextra challenge is to write a bedtime story. My story is not so much a story for bed but, rather, about going to bed. Every parent who reads this should be able to associate with the exasperated feelings that come from having had a long day, being completely exhausted and then, at bedtime, your child just won't go to sleep so that you can finally get a little down time yourself. To everyone who has fallen asleep before your child has.....this is for you! Enjoy. :)
Glorious Dreamland
"But, I'm not tired."
"Well, it's bedtime!
You either lay here in the darkness or head off to glorious Dreamland.
But, .........it......is........ BEDTIME!"
Two hours later........
"Mommy! I'm still not tired!"
"Zzzzzzzzzz!"
This is my beautiful, Sophie. She is aged 3 at the time this photo was taken. It is almost 11:00pm. Bedtime was at 8:00pm! She has finally fallen asleep, in the hallway, by our front door. She is covered in the contents of a box of mittens, gloves and scarves that my wife had washed that evening. My wife is sleeping on the living room sofa, having been outlasted by our child. It is peaceful, at last, in my home. I snapped this photo and then made myself a hot cup of tea. Then I put both girls to bed before going myself. Sometimes, bedtime is like this.
This is so sweet. I think the best part (aside from the adorable photo) is your description of the events. Made me smile.
ReplyDeleteThanks for such a nice comment. :)
DeleteThis is fantastic! The photo is so precious!
ReplyDeleteSame kid as in the cow photo at top of my blog! Glad you could relate. :)
DeleteGreat photo! We were spoiled with my older son - we'd say bedtime and it was never an argument (and he actually went to sleep.) My younger son...oh he is just what you described here!
ReplyDeleteWhen Sophie is really tired but, not over-tired (if you know what I mean), she is good to conk right out. Once asleep, she is an excellent, full-night sleeper. But.........getting to sleep is not always a sure bet. Knew you would understand. :)
Deleteoh boy can I relate to this (I have a 3.5 yo) :D
ReplyDeleteSophie will turn four on September 16 so, she was about 3.5 when this photo was taken.
Delete*hahaha* Lucky for me, my boys are excellent sleepers. On the flip side, they are also early risers.
ReplyDeleteBoth of my girls are good sleepers and late risers but, Sophie can never be counted on to go right to sleep. I think that she can sense how desparate we are to be done with our parental duties for the night some nights. On those nights, we get the photo op. above. :). Still love her to bits but..............
DeleteSo cute and so true.
ReplyDeleteFunny how we have this same conversation internally as adults:)
lovely!
I am definitely tapping into a universal parental experience here, I know. :) Glad/sorry that youcan relate.
DeleteI love the matter of fact 'sometimes bedtime is like this.' They can turn into little maniacs right before our eyes. Ridiculously sweet, I really enjoyed the glimpse.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Shannon. Not to give the wrong impression but, Sophie, despite the chaotic scene, isn't usually a maniac. She is more a "fiddler"; fiddling with this and with that, instead of sleeping. She is rarely noisy. She just mutters and hums and taps of stuff in a small little way that is barely audible but, just the same, is excruciatingly audible when you are tired and have not an ounce of energy left to spare. In this photo, she was "fiddling" with the winter box when it tipped. Then she thought it would be great fun to lay on the floor and play with each item. Eventually, she tired herself out, as the photo shows. Kids! I tell ya! Glad you liked the story. I appreciate your words very much.
Deletebeen there, for sure!
ReplyDeleteStill there! :)
DeleteBedtime is till like this in my house and my baby is 20. He falls asleep on the couch and is MUCH too big for me to carry to his room. He also sleeps like a rock, so there is no waking him up.
ReplyDeleteAre you trying to tell me that my girls will still be at home when they are twenty!? Glad your baby is right where he needs to be.......close to his awesome Mom! :)
DeleteLove the photo and the accompanying story Tom! At the beginning of the summer, my 3 boys (11, 8, and 3)wanted to stay up all night. We decided to let the older 2 attempt it, and figured the youngest could play with his older brothers until my wife and I were ready to head to bed. I've got a photo of all 3 of them snuggled together in one bed...sound asleep...by about 11. Priceless!!
ReplyDeleteI love watching my children sleeping. Glad that you have such a treasured photo and memory. Thanks for stopping by with such a nice comment and story. :)
DeleteHahaha. Happens all the time. Love the photo!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Alicia. Very happy to have made you happy. :)
DeleteOh, that is such a great photo! My son, who is also 3, is really good at dragging out bedtime, but he's never wound up asleep in the hallway. (Of course, he'd be licked awake by one of our dogs if he ever did!)
ReplyDeleteNow I'm off to check out your other post!
I have lived that particular scenario. What fun that was. I haven't slept that well in a long time!
ReplyDeleteI think I'm choking on the sweetness. This is just adorable.
ReplyDeleteI can see where she became diligent in, trying to please her daddy, at working hard until she could make herself tired! ;)
ReplyDelete