The Zimmer Zoo

Our typical bed time routine is Burke and Maggie go into their room with Daddy for a good night story (usually a made up story that involves Lightnin’ McQueen, Cinderella, a castle, someone needing help and Maggie, Burke, and Logan saving the day. Throw in a wizard, tunnels through the mountains that get you anywhere you want to go just by walking for 5 minutes, a flying – and talking – bathtub, and various other things I can’t even begin to keep track of and you’ve got quite the story each night. Perhaps I’ll have him start to write some down…)

While that’s going on, I’m in Logan’s room with him trying to decide if he wants the Good Night Song, Twinkle Twinkle, or – most recently – the “Bear song.” (Ya…funny story. While Ms. Speech was here one day, she was asking about how his speech group was going and asking if he sang this song or that song…he answered “yes” to all of the ones she asked. She looked at me as if to say, “Is he just going to say ‘yes’ to everything?” so I asked, “Logan, did you sing the Bear song?” just to see what he’d say. He looked at me and said “no….” but then asked for the Bear song that night for a bed time song. Luckily, I could remember some words to The Teddy Bear Picnic, and that seemed to suffice.)

Then Logan tries to figure out if he wants to sleep in his bed or on the floor. (He hasn’t requested the rocking chair much since that one time I found him up-side-down.) More and more he heads for his bed. WOOT!

Then I go in to Burke and Maggie’s room to sing the Good Night Song and recently, Burke’s been requesting that I stay to sing the Lullaby song as well. Leave it to Mike to make up words to Brahms’ Lullaby (Lullaby and Good Night):

Lullaby and Good Night,
Go to sleep Burke and Maggie.
Mommy loves you,
Daddy loves you,
And Logan do-es too.

Lullaby and Good Night,
Go to sleep Burke and Maggie.
Mommy loves you,
Daddy loves you,
And Logan do-es too.

You’re honest and kind,
And you work very hard.
You’re handsome and pretty,
And both brave and smart.

(And then Burke added: And pretty cute.)

On my way out the door I hear “Good night! I love you! See you in the morning! Sleep well! I’ll love you forever!”

Filed under: kids, Mike, sleep | Tagged: bed time routines, bed time stories, good night, rituals |