a break in the routine

I've mentioned before the bedtime routine around here. I'll recap (I wouldn't want all my new readers to be lost) ; ) The routine includes story time. We switch off in whose room we read, and who gets to pick the story. If we are reading in The Babe's room, then The Boy picks the book, and vice versa. Each night I read whatever the "chosen" book is, and Good Night Moon is always read after that, as a closer.

Without fail, there is a problem each night. If it is The Boy's turn to pick, The Babe pouts and whines because she does not like the story he has chosen. In her defense, he chooses the same story every time, and even I am quite tired of it. But, it is his choice... she can choose tomorrow. Also, The Boy has this strange habit of wanting to sit on the chosen book and "surprise" you with it. "What book did you pick? Oh, surprise! There it is! It's Happy Easter, Little Critter for the 8,756th time!" This sitting on the book thing irritates The Babe for some reason. I think it's because he insists on sitting on the book even if it's one she's chosen, and then it's like he's taking credit or some such nonsense that would only matter if you were 5 years old. If The Boy cannot sit on the book, there are meltdowns of massive proportions. So, he sits on the book. Every night.

Last night, it was The Boy's turn to choose, which meant that we would be reading in The Babe's room. When we got upstairs, however, we found that Cosmo the cat was sleeping on The Babe's bed. This is better than gold to The Babe. Cosmo is her all time favorite sleeping companion, and she thinks it's beyond special when he chooses to sleep by her. I like to encourage her fondness for the animals, and I appreciate how special this is for her. So, I quietly told her that maybe we can tell The Boy it's her turn to choose, so we can read in his room, therefore not disturb the cat, in the hopes that the cat will still sleep with The Babe at bedtime. I told The Babe we could give it a try, but that if The Boy remembers it's really his turn, then we have to let him have his turn. But, The Boy fell for it, and accepted the fact that it was The Babe's turn to choose and we will read in his room.

I walked in to The Boy's room and I asked The Babe what book she chose. She showed me. She picked the book... the one she always complains about, the one The Boy always picks. I was surprised, and she leaned over and very quietly she said "Since I stole his turn, mommy". Oh! She's so nice! The Boy was 1500 miles beyond surprised, he was elated! "Happy Easter, Little Critter!!!! Dizzy pick Happy Easter book!" He was just about glowing, the smile on his face was so bright. And then he surprised me, too. "You sit on it, Dizzy? Take it. You sit on it, OK?"

It's so silly and little, and probably doesn't make much sense. I hope I explained it well enough... it just made my night. *sigh*