Bedtime Stories and Hugs and Kisses Day 25

When our girls were little bedtime stories were as dear as bedtime hugs and kisses.  Each night as daddy drew the bath the girls chose bedtime stories and pjs.  "Mommy, how many books tonight?"  It seemed no matter how many I said the retort was. "Ahh, how about five?"  Of course, they won every time!

After a warm and playful bath, we helped the girls dress in their pajamas and climb up on our bed.  The girls always smelled so fresh and clean.  (The books aren't the only memories of those days.)

Tim and I sat like bookends beside our girls.  Some nights I read each book in its entirety and some nights I tried to skip a few words or even a page.  Shortcutting was a mommy trick that had to be done at just the right time, or I would be called out! The girls knew their books and adored this time. There would be no shortcuts allowed.


As the girls got older and family storytimes transitioned. First, books were read individually at each daughters bedside.  Later,  we tried family book clubs.  We would all read one book and talk about it a dinner.  The family book club just didn't have the same appeal as family storytime.  The girls grew older and busier. Soon high school homework, dance, and cell phones filled all their extra minutes.

Now, my oldest daughter, L and I have discovered we read the same genre, physicological thrillers.  We share titles, recommendations, and conversations about books regularly.  During our spring break this week, L was reading a hardcover book without a jacket.  I was ear reading on Audible.  Neither of us had asked the other about our reading.

One, moring I was ear reading without headphones when L walked in. " You're listening to, The Woman in the Window?" Immediately, she thumbed through her book.  "Tell me when you're on chapter 73."  This tease drove me crazy.  I was on chapter 53!

The next morning the first thing I said to her was what I knew was THE line she teased me with. She grinned.  "You're not going to believe all that spills out now. I couldn't put it down after those words!"

Today, we drove L to the airport, and I still wasn't finished with the book.  As soon as we returned home, I grabbed my headphones and my book.

When L turned off airplane mode, she had a text waiting.  I left just the right words to let her know I had finished.
I can't tell you the words; you'll have to read it for yourself.

You're never too old to share a book with your family.