I saw this book recently, and it brought back so many memories growing up. (Remember, Mom?) This was MY BOOK. One of only two ("Black Beauty" being the other) that I ever got hooked on. Over time the thick cardboard pages grew worn and edges bent. "My Goodnight Book" by Eloise Wilkin is a total classic about a little girl who goes through the whole routine of getting ready to sleep. It's funny, since I never did go to sleep. As soon as I heard my parents retire for the night, my secret life of being awake began. The night light illuminated my wee-hour pretend play, reading, writing, list-making. Even at 5, I got a lot done in the middle of the night.
We were busy kids. I don't want to say over scheduled, because we begged our parents to do all the things we did. And we loved every minute! Nothing was pushed on us. But it was non-stop go, go, go for as long as I can remember. My mom had this ginormous chalkboard in the kitchen with columns and rows, and a color for each of us. How else could the folks keep it all straight? Gracing it through the years were various school activities, gymnastics, swimming, karate, diving, track, girl scouts, boy scouts, basketball, football, soccer, baseball, social events. There was no down time. No time to get into trouble, but also no lazy Sundays. No whining "I'm bored!" And my theory is, no time for thinking and dreaming for ME except after dark, when the rest of the world slept.
My parents usually found me in the morning--glasses all crooked--passed out on a massive pile of loose-leaf paper. Pen marks on the bed. I wasn't fun to wake up. Go figure the little girl who didn't sleep is now a big girl who doesn't sleep. I want to sleep. Oh do I want to sleep. And Hubby wants me to sleep. But I've spent a lifetime staying up, so I don't know how to put myself to bed. Or take a nap. I'm as much a night owl as I was growing up, as I was in college, as I was before my baby slept 'like a baby' through the night. 4 hours of sleep and 1 iced coffee in the AM is totally sufficient for me to go at 100%. Ironic considering this was MY BOOK.
My parents usually found me in the morning--glasses all crooked--passed out on a massive pile of loose-leaf paper. Pen marks on the bed. I wasn't fun to wake up. Go figure the little girl who didn't sleep is now a big girl who doesn't sleep. I want to sleep. Oh do I want to sleep. And Hubby wants me to sleep. But I've spent a lifetime staying up, so I don't know how to put myself to bed. Or take a nap. I'm as much a night owl as I was growing up, as I was in college, as I was before my baby slept 'like a baby' through the night. 4 hours of sleep and 1 iced coffee in the AM is totally sufficient for me to go at 100%. Ironic considering this was MY BOOK.
Buby is a fantastic sleeper, just like his dad. We're so lucky for that. I'd love to get this book for him, but I'm slightly afraid of jinxing it. I hope he never has a secret night life!
photo: Amazon
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