I was changing into my pajamas when I heard a soft knock on my bedroom door.
“Mom?”
It was Aidan.
“What do you need?”
She said she had a question. I told her to come in. It was past her usual bedtime and she seemed shy and hesitant as she lingered in the doorway. Her demeanor set me on edge almost immediately. I was confident her question was going to be meatier than I had the fortitude to chew after a typically long, busy day.
I climbed into bed, propping myself up on pillows. If my mind couldn’t be comfortable, my body would.
“Well, I was just wondering…what is your favorite Little Golden Book?”
I laughed the laugh of a person who felt relief tickle her under the arms and the chinny-chin-chin.
I didn’t have to ponder the answer or go through my mental catalogue of my favorites. Two gems popped to mind: The Monster at the End of this Book and The Color Kittens.
It was then I noticed she was holding a book behind her back. She smiled broadly and held it up. It was The Color Kittens.
“Me, too!”
She bounded to the bed and landed next to me, pulling a pillow behind her back. I took the book and opened it to the title page.
And that’s how I read a bedtime story to my teenaged daughter.
Best. Story. Ever. Good job, Mama!
So relieved for you. Srsly. I hate late-night angst-fests.
Um, so choked up.
Mine is the Pokey Little Puppy, reminds me of my Gram.
Steph
I love this. I kid you not, I was holding my breath at the beginning and then tearing up at the end.
This made me smile, big and broad.
AH, the Color Kittens, that was my favorite as a child. I actually found a copy for my grandkids. Thanks for the trip down memory lane.
So sweet! I hope my kids never outgrow the beauty of bedtime stories.
I have to agree with Steph. The Pokey Little Puppy was my favorite too. What a treat to get to read a bedtime story to your daughter!
*sniffle* So precious.
I had never even heard of The Color Kittens until I read about it last year on someone’s blog, and I bought it for my youngest grandson immediately. He’s still a bit young to appreciate it, but I gave it to him for Christmas, after reading it myself, wondering how I had missed out on it all these years! I need to get another copy to keep here for my own well-being.
We don’t have that book, but now I want it. That’s such a sweet mother-daughter moment.
Sometimes life with kids is so much better than great!!! Who else would you want to share your fave golden book with after all!!! Hope you guys have the best weekend together!!!
LOVE LOVE LOVE.
Those are great books! I usually only read to my 6 year old when I am putting the kids to bed by my self. But I really enjoy getting to do it.
What a great story! I hope I’ll get a chance to read to my kids sometime when they’re that age. Nowadays (at 4yo and almost-2yo) we read and read and read every day!
Gosh, I have never read/seen The Color Kittens, but boy did I love The Monster At The End Of The Book-and my kids did too. I did a great Grover impression, lol. That was certainly MY favorite.
A few times, I resorted to reading to my teens at night. It was those few times when homework assignments were threatening to kill all of us and I knew they weren’t getting near enough sleep because of it. I insisted they at least were lying down and I’d read some of their required reading to them.
The moments weren’t as magical as yours, but it was then that I’d think about how quickly my kids were growing up and how it wouldn’t be long before they would be gone forever.
My Mom gave me all of my Little Golden books when I moved out of the house. My favorite of the bunch might be The Magic Next Door, mostly because my Mom used to say I looked like the little girl in the book.
This story gave me hope that my own little girl will grow up slowly. She is so far, and I’m so glad.
Whew! That’s the nicest thing I have heard all day – I like that girl of yours!
Love this.
That is one of our favorites too!