sleeping patterns

We have good sleepers in this house. I don't claim credit for this, but our boys actually like to go to bed and they crash early. Because of Andrew's schedule, he is never home at bedtime except on the weekends. On these rare nights I try to convince Liam to let Daddy put him to bed, but I guess because he's a creature of habit, he wants mom to do it. I should be flattered, I know. Tonight, however, after Andrew read stories, Liam came in the kitchen and said "hug and kiss," which meant he was going up with Andrew. I was pleased to have the break so I could, um, empty the dishwasher and clean the kitchen. (What has happened to me?) Anyway, after about one minute, I heard Andrew coming down the stairs. He appeared in the kitchen door looking kind of sheepish, "Liam said 'Sorry dad, but I really need mom up here.'"

Now, when Andrew's not home, the late afternoon consists of very mellow play -- drawing, playing board games, a little video watching -- as we wind down for dinner and, immediately after, our bedtime ritual. This makes going to bed a very calm experience. I like this, but that's just me, apparently. When Andrew is home, there is sword fighting, rock and roll playing, wrestling and loud farting up until the bedtime hour. Hmmm, I wonder who's the funner parent? But (as I have been told I used to say as a child), if we're going to play house, someone has to be the mother.

No suprise that I found a wound up child tangled in the covers, hiding. In a few seconds, we got sorted out - head on the pillow, blanket straightened, thumb in mouth. And then in one swoop, Liam kicked off the covers, threw his arms down to his sides, let out an exasperated sigh and said, "I am not a fan of lying down."

The comment took me so off guard and sounded so funny, I burst out laughing. Soon Liam and I were both in tears laughing. I guess I can be a fun parent, too. And the boy who's not a fan of lying down . . . sound asleep in two minutes.