The Pet Store
One night I will get her to bed on time. This was not the night . Also, pets.
This is not a story about a pet store. At least, not in the way you might be thinking.
I have no idea what got into the child tonight but from about 6 pm onward, she would not listen about anything that I had to say.
The night seemed to go in slow motion as we tried everything to get her to put her PJ’s on and just go to bed. Good lord, she was exhausted.
She had a great day. The ladies went out to the farm to pick strawberries and there was a bunch of corn the kids could play in and some other farm attractions too. They liked it so much they bought a season pass because they’re going to go back next week when school is out to get more berries!
They came home, had lunch and she was chilling on the couch when I came home. After a while she lost interest and despite the heat, we went on a scoot around the block to get some energy out.
Then, the pool for an hour.
And just when we gave up home for any friends in the neighborhood, one of her friends came over and asked her to play in his pool. Same pool, different venue.
She was there going full-tilt for over an hour.
By the time she got to dinner she was toast. Eye rubbing and yawns - the whole bit.
But she would not just go to bed.
She was up a million times tonight.
This brings us back to the pet store. I pulled out all the tricks tonight and none worked so at this point I just gave up
“Just stay in your room”, I told her.
Of course, she comes out and she wants a blanket to make a nest on the floor. Okay, fine - blanket.
Goodnight, Go to Bed, Door Closed
I go down to my man cave to start to write this and I get a tap on my back: It’s the child.
“What now?”. I ask.
“I’m worried about the pets”, she says.
PETS? OMG!
I ask her what she’s talking about and I still don’t understand so we go back upstairs for the fifteenth time and she shows me the “pet store”, where she has her stuffed animals sorted by size in the corners of her room.
I tell her that the small ones need the most care, so if she were to sleep upside down with her head at the foot of the bed she could keep an eye on them - and most importantly - stay in the bed!
She didn’t like that idea but decided that sleeping under a heavy blanket surrounded her pets would be best.
OKay….whatever. goodnightiloveyou.
I walk out and close the door.
I haven’t heard a peep since, so I’m going to assume she’s finally asleep.
It’s going to be a long summer without the threat of a school day to tighten up the bedtime routines.
I’m going to have to start taking naps so I will be able to be awake as long as she is.
Goodnight,
TH and Co.