Chapter 36: Bedtime story

Over the decade of motherhood, among things that have been redefined, top most would be bedtime. It has covered the entire spectrum of emotions I am capable of, depending on the night. As the kids get older, 10 and 6 this year, the circus is slowly winding down. I suddenly feel like a tired ring master who trained his animals well enough that they can more or less dance without his instruction, but  feels oddly ousted. Sometimes I lie down in the room staring into the night, slowly drifting to sleep even as the kids are still wide awake, snuggling with their blanket, hanging on to their babyhood, as they rush through night after night, racing time.

It was the dead of the night

   Not a sound, nor ray of light

Children were all sleeping

All?  All but two.

  no prizes for guessing who 

Buried under covers whispering.

Their parents fast asleep,

  Out of bed the children creep

And set about tiptoeing.

Every clock was set back to 10 pm

  Two hours past midnight, actually then

As they fell asleep, happily, dreaming.

Parents can be tricked, not Time

  She watched the children and smiled

"If only If only..." she conceded, sighing