never ending (bedtime) story

Bedtime for children. Sometimes there’s simply a story, a cuddle, a kiss, the words good night & before you know it you have children who are sound asleep at a reasonable hour. Other times it is a little more like this drawn out scene from our place last night…

Christmas bedtime story, teeth brushing,
me: Would any one like a drink of water?
Miss 2: No thanks mum
Miss 5: No thanks mum
Bed time…. Miss 2: I have to find dolly *search for dolly begins Me: Here’s dolly!
Miss 2: No that’s little dolly, I need big dolly *mummy locates big dolly
Miss 2: I have to find my puppy *we search for puppy Me: I can’t find puppy.. what about your kitty?
Miss 2: No it has to be puppy Me: OK here’s puppy. Do you want kitty as well?
Miss 2: No thank you
Miss 5: I’ll have kitty *pass toy kitty to miss 5
Miss 2: mummy I want kitty Me: No you wanted dolly & puppy, you can’t have kitty now
Miss 5: Actually Anouk can have kitty, I’ll have a puppy *I pass kitty to Anouk & give Ava a puppy
Miss 5: When Anouk goes to sleep can I have kitty? Me: OK
Miss 5: Anouk you have kitty & I have puppy, but when you fall asleep we’ll swap OK!?
Miss 2: OK

Prayers & kisses & I love you’s are exchanged. The room goes quiet. Silence. Then miss 5 reminds me that it is almost Christmas & we should really say happy birthday to Jesus. This is followed by one child asking for milk, then the other child asking for water, then the child who first asked for milk deciding she would also like some water. This is followed by miss 5 showing me what she learned at ballet this week, followed by miss 2 demonstrating that she can do this ballet move too. Followed by miss 5 explaining that she really has always been able to do this ballet move ‘even before she learned it!’ Followed by miss 5 showing me how her head can touch her knees, followed by miss 2 doing the same.

Miss 5: Mum how come Anouk always copies me? Me: Well it’s probably because you are her big sister & she likes to do the same things you do. Is that right Anouk?
Miss 2: No I don’t copy Ava Me: You don’t?
Miss 2: No Ava copies me
Miss 5: That’s not true mum, everyday Anouk copies me.
Miss 2: No Ava copies me mum. She does!

Then the questions begin… mum did I get this puppy when I was a baby?….. mum did you see me at swimming today when I was swimming & I did a spinning roll in the water? Can you do that too mum?…. mum what does glory to God mean?…. mum can you tell me a story about when you were little? Mum does dad have to go to work tomorrow or is it his day off?…. mum where does God live?… mum how long is an hour?

Me: Goodnight girls. I will check on you in 5 minutes
Both: OK – *1 minute passes * Miss 2 walks out of bedroom
Me: Hello. What are you doing out here Anouk? Miss 2: I had to leave kitty & I will check on her in 5 minutes
Me: OK well let’s go back to kitty Miss 2: mum? Me: yes Miss 2: I love kitty. Me: I know
Miss 2: I can not lose her Me: Oh I’m sure you won’t lose her, you look after her very well
Miss 2: Yes. I pat her very gently & I can not drop her on the road. *tuck miss 2 back into bed
Then the inevitable words from miss 2: mum I want you to lie down with me *I climb into bed with miss 2. The room is quiet apart from a yawn or two (mostly mine)

Miss 2: mum? Is tomorrow Christmas Eve? Me: No honey, tomorrow is just Saturday
Miss 2: mummy I love you me: I love you too
Miss 2: At Christmas do people go on a rocket ship? Me: No not usually
Miss 2: Good night mum Me: Good night. *Silence
……..
Miss 5: mum I’m thirsty….