telling stories and bed-time routines... simple things that make a difference!

OK, I'm doing it again, cutting and pasting today's "tool shed" blog entry as "advice" -- hope it's not too obvious a demonstration of my need for attention!!... but here goes...

I'm a Dad with girls only -- 3 of 'em in fact!... so I guess

I don't know a lot about parenting boys --

(tho' possibly I may know a thing or two, just by being exposed to the many dysfunctional models I see displayed in a public school environment -- as evidenced by the outcomes!

I don't know how many times I've heard teachers say, about another boy in the middle of an incident at school, or who's been identified at-risk of something serious : "he just really, really wants his dad to do something with him"; "if only mum or dad could just turn up to one school event, it would make his day"...)

But, back on topic... I think it's the little regular things that make some of the best connections.

I've pretty much always been the "bed-time" parent in our household... it used to be a long involved process, with never-ending stories..

I started a habit of making up bed time stories -- which I've regretted on many occasions, but look back on now with great memories -- often with animal characters -- lot's of random one-offs that we've forgotten, but a few long-standing series -- drawn out over years!! (not quite as sad as "Days of our Lives"??)

Geronimo the lizard, with a whole plethora of animal friends who have various, and often fairly mundane, adventures together;

Willie the whale and a dozen or so of his marine friends -- my daughters actually appeared in a lot of these stories, which made for quite interactive telling ("I wouldn't do a double back-flip off a whale, daddy!"... or, "Can I have a turn on Wilma's spout now?" );

Fish the fish (whose whole extended family was also unfortunately just named 'Fish', which leads to a lot of confusion, of course!)..

(My eight year-old even now very occasionally jumps on my lap and says, "How about a Geronimo(/Fish/Willie) story, Dad?" -- several times when she has a friend or cousin staying over, to "show me off", I think!? I'll usually groan theatrically -- sometimes it's quite heart-felt!! -- but almost always comply now (I used to say "not now, sweetie, we don't have time" more often, when it was a regular request!). Her big sisters are "too cool" to come and sit on my lap while I tell the story, usually, of course... but usually will be sitting close by trying to pretend that they're not listening!!

I still 'put the girls to bed' -- but now it often takes about 1 minute! (maybe I should have a long hard think about that, huh? and treasure the opportunity now a little more!??)

Even my 13 year-old still asks "can you put me to bed now, Daddy?", which just means walking the few steps to the bedroom she shares with her sisters, each saying a simple prayer, giving her a kiss on the forehead and then saying goodnight. I chuckle inside every time I hear her say it, thinking, "It won't be long now before you'll think that's the most ridiculous-sounding thing you ever heard of", but also enjoy the fruits of simple things over a long time, that make connections!