April 18, 2005

Now I lay me down to sleep

I fell asleep with C and K tonight. This is the second glorious evening in a row that I have been able to read to them before bed as the previous nights have been stolen away by dress rehearsals, performances, adjudicatory notes.

Last night the three of us lay on K's bed. I had the middle so as to allow for equal opportunity and access. They brought four books to me and we read three:

Olivia (One simply cannot dislike Oliva, nor can one not help but wonder at and admire Ian Falconer's keen eye for a child's perspective).
Walter the Farting Dog (which for some reason, I cannot read without bestowing a heavy Bronx accent on the dad)
Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters (I didn't begin the story with the correct accent for the narrator- the one I always use- and so had to begin again).

We laughed loudly, our legs entangled under the warm comforter, our hearts enveloped in the presence of each other. Chopin was playing in the adjoining room. C turned off the light and climbed back into the bed next to me. K reached for a few strands of my hair to succor herself into the night. C pulled back my skin and slipped in, wrapping her arm around me. The loosening of the hold of my waist and hair, coupled with the rhythmic breathing of the two, lulled me into my own sleep.

I awakened several hours later and laid momentarily in the dark room, sweetened by their still untainted breath. Slipping from between them, I made my way upstairs where people were still awake and making preparation for the end of the day. I fell into my own bed, still sleepy but deeply satisfied.

Posted by Rae at April 18, 2005 11:57 PM | TrackBack
Comments

Very, very nice!

Posted by: Robert the Llama Butcher at April 19, 2005 07:09 AM

Is this what it's like to home school? Not to be bothered so much with homework, flashcards, and getting their backpacks ready for the next day?

Posted by: Amy Jo at April 19, 2005 08:50 AM

That's sweet. You're a good Mom.

Stories about farting dogs? ::: laugh :::

Posted by: Randy at April 19, 2005 06:19 PM

Impressed - - Did you know you were an ICON?!?!

I ran your URL:

http://www.alexa.com/data/details/main?q=&url=http://likethelanguage.mu.nu/

If you run your URL at:

http://www.iconinteractive.com/tools/pop/

you'll see the break-down that says your an ICON was just passing through and thought of one of the people who has impressed me - this actually belongs in the E-Mail but, alas - no "E" for you - so another out of place comment - - ooops!

Posted by: chrys at April 19, 2005 07:31 PM

You also make me miss my son and these special times that don't return.

Posted by: chrys at April 19, 2005 07:33 PM

I can't think of anything more reassuring and comforting than hugging my niece. "Satisfying" is almost exactly right.

Posted by: Lita at April 19, 2005 10:28 PM

I love that feeling. The other night I had my two nieces and nephew all lying on the couch with me, the baby on my chest with her little fist gripping my hair, the two year old with his head tucked into my side lying between my body and the couch, and my six year old niece lying on my other arm clinging to me so as not to roll off the couch, but refusing to move when she woke up. It's amazing to be trusted by such small and physically vulnerable beings.

And I must admit that the fact they all call me Mommy does make my heart flutter a bit (even though it kills my sister).

Posted by: Joan at April 20, 2005 12:17 PM
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