The world has been a crazy place in 2011. Our children are noticing that something is different. They can feel the earth shifting around them and the waters tumbling in.
At bedtime I have a little ritual of the ‘sleepy story’ with my children. I tell them a tale about me as a young girl. I can never remember my exact age with childhood events and so I usually say “I must have been, oh, about ten”. And Maxi says”You’re always ten in these stories! I can’t wait to be ten!”
After my sleepy-story each child goes to their own bed and I tuck them in with a ‘magic sheet’. I say, Safe and warm in Cappers’ bed, peaceful dreams, my sleepy head. The ‘magic’ bit is that the sheet keeps them safe and warm all night, even if it comes off (this part was invented because for a while there they were kicking off the sheet and I had to go through the whole ritual again).
Last night Maxi said, “Why are people being drowned in Japan?’
I said, “Sometimes bad things happen just because.”
He said, “But why?”
And I said, “Well if everything was good all of the time, people wouldn’t get the chance to practice their super hero skills.”
“So we need some bad stuff so we can be extra strong?”
“Yes, my darling, we do.”
[Image via weheartit. Please let me know if this image is yours so I can correctly attribute it.]
Edit – 21.10.11 – FOUND the image source! It’s from the beautiful Tortoise and the Hare blog. Go visit!
Cate says
Can’t wait until Maxi grows up – we need a superhero like him right about now!! 🙂
xxxCate
Tamara says
God bless him!
Daydream Living says
Aaah, love this post!
Superhero’s we need them indeed.
Have a good day!
Maureen
Becky says
Bringing tears to my eyes and Cate is so right, we need a super hero just like him xo
Brenda @ Mira Narnie says
just gorgeous!!! Little Maxi is such a thinker! It is horrible what is going on in the world with all these disasters. I wish we had some super heros to help out. I like the way you explained it to him. My little man was very concerned when QLD experienced the floods, so I’m not exposing him to any vision of what is going on in Japan.
ps – i absolutely LOVE that superhero costume! I’m so coveting that cape and mask xx
Tenille @ Help!Mum says
What a sweetheart; he has a way with words. xo
74 Lime Lane says
just brilliant!
Emma Burgess says
Love the bed time ritual, and what a gorgeous super hero… just yummy. xx
Jess says
Love your little bedtime ritual….
And yes, we do all need a superhero or two right now..its all very scary for us and the littlies.
Thanks for stopping by – I’m still here but just not getting much of a chance to blog. Ayla is 13 weeks tomorrow 🙂 oh how time flys. Will post some pics this week!!
Xx
Salamander says
You made me cry. Maxi reminds me of Jack, wanting to know why there are people in the world who don’t have mummies to keep them safe.
I just wish I could explain as eloquently as you! Can I borrow your superhero costume some time?
xxx
Melinda @ Here We Go Loopy Lou says
Awww, what a sweetie. It is so hard to explain this devastation to inquisitive children isn’t it. I cannot even begin to imagine some of the conversations that are needed in Japan right now, terrible.
Lauren says
Oh how gorgeous!
Mama Mogantosh says
I love your bedtime ritual. It’s tough to know how things are being processed through those little brainsm isn’t it… Weeks after the Queensland floods, Ivy asked if when I went to the city, would all the water wash me away?
Kylie says
My biggest boy and I often talk about how things happen in life, and we are always growing and learning from them. It is such a wonderful lesson to teach them.
Naturally Carol says
Your storytelling talents come in to their own in relating this..you’ve allayed their fears creatively and wisely.
Ms Curious @ CCM says
The two of you are just beautiful 😀
therhythmmethod says
Beautiful post, so well written. I feel safe and tucked in having read it.
Mother nature seriously needs a lie down. One natural disaster for every month of 2011. So very sad.
Life In A Pink Fibro says
Aw. Lovely. I have been as sad and anxious as a child about all the crashing and movement in the world. Unsettled. Will go and practice my super hero moves.
{ Nina Designs } says
I love your bedtime ritual. So sweet!
Anna Bartlett says
That is a beautiful story and memory. Thanks for sharing it. I might have more answers now, when my kids ask the big questions…
supermac says
What a heartwarming story. Oh, I have been so profoundly affected by all the images I see of Japan after the quake and the tsunami. But I imagine moments similar to the exchange you had with your kid and I thought that maybe, all is still well in the world.
Cinnamon says
I welled up reading this one. I too feel as if there is some major something or other going on. I just may borrow your idea of how to deal with it. Super powers indeed.
Rachael says
Aww, what a great kid you have!!
So sweet.
Glen says
hard times – a superhero would be nice.
or more chocolate.
jane@flightplatformliving says
love it! superhero status to all us mummies and mini superhero status to the little souls that keep us on our toes xx
Chantelle {fat mum slim} says
Lacey’s too little at the moment to ask about it, but I know as a Nanny that it would have come up with the kids I cared for.
x
Sarah says
That is a wonderful bed time routine.
And a beautiful way to look at the issues we are facing in the world.
Cheryl Gerbera says
Yes, we need some super heroes power in this world indeed.
It’s heartbreaking how much disaster has happened lately.
xo
http://sourcherryandcurlchocolate.blogspot.com/
Tammi says
Oh that is just precious!!
x
Miss Pink says
Oh gosh. Excellent answer. Pulled at my heart strings *sniff*
Chelle, Nick and Raya says
That’s a lovely bedtime ritual and yes the world certainly is in need of a superhero
Jane says
It’s the hardest thing to work out how to explain it to littlies. Bravo to you, Bron for finding the perfect analogy at the exact moment. The older pixies have just started to get interested in superheroes – thanks to you, I now have this reply up my sleeve when those questions come. J x
1000 Homes of Happiness says
such sad times….wouldn’t it be nice if we could all have some super hero skills right now. You little man is very perceptive.
What a lovely bed time ritual you have….x
Kellie xo
Rachel @ Little Bits of Lovely says
oh bless your little darlings, they are so sweet. It must be hard trying to explain all this terrible tragedy to them. Such a lovely ritual you have with them xx
Vanessa says
That is such a lovely thing to say during such troubling times. Your kids will be so resilient, good on you.
Alice Becomes says
Maxi got it in one, didn’t he?
my little one has been asking a lot about new zealand at the moment, he loves all birds, particularly his little Kiwi bedtime buddy and so he is quite concerned about Kiwi’s home country, it always amazes me how much wisdom these little people have..
we do the bedtime ritual story too, my mum did it with us and it is one routine I find easy to keep…
Gill xo
Maxabella says
Gill – Max’s country of choice is Japan as he has a little Japanese friend who moved here at the start of Kindergarten last year. She spoke no English but she sent Max little love notes in Japanese. She is smitten. Max says he doesn’t like her, but anything Japanese he is all over instantly. Makes me smile. x
Christina says
Oh, little chicken. They have the worries of the world on their shoulders and sometimes we don’t even know it. What a wonderful ritual for creating a safe place for sleep as well as a moment to share his inner thoughts.
I think we’ve all been asking ourselves ‘why?’
Frog, Goose and Bear says
that’s just priceless…we all need to remember that bad stuff can make us stronger.
anushka says
wow.. that is just beautiful. i’m so glad i read this. it made my heart warm.
Jodie at Mummy Mayhem says
Wow. I love that explanation, hon. Fabulous. Will be using it. x
Robyn says
ohhh lovely- and what a superhero outfit!
Sarah says
Funny how the big worries always surface at bedtime. Sounds like your little ones are wrapped up tight with love and security every night. Beautiful story.
Happy Homemaker UK says
Wow, your mommy skills rock! Super heroes and magic sheets? I’m sending my kids to your house and they’ll never want to come home 🙂
Thank you for joining Post Of The Month Club – I hope you’ll link up next month too XOL
LindyLouMac in Italy says
Calling by from Happy Homemaker UK as participating in Post of the Month and really enjoying meeting everyone else and reading their favourite posts. Lovely post 🙂