I don’t quite remember when it happened, but sometime ago my kids grew up and I stopped singing lullabies. I don’t know how it happened or when it happened, it just happened. All of the sudden I was giving them hugs and kisses, telling them to say their prayers, and wishing them ‘sweet dreams’ and that was it. No requests for lullabies. I wasn’t even aware of it until last night.
We had a long day. They were up at 5AM after having a sleepover. Our day was full of a bunch of meltdowns and cranky attitudes. I made them go to bed a half hour early, which they protested of course. “We’re not tired!!” (bags under their eyes). One of them actually began to cry. OVER TIRED, God help us. I grabbed one our favorite books that I used to read to them before they started reading to themselves. The Great Monster Hunt. I gave quite an excellent theatrical performance if I do say so myself. They settled down and enjoyed the story and then I told them to say their prayers and I gave out hugs and kisses. Then my eight year old made a request that broke my heart. “Can you sing us our lullaby?”
Our Lullaby. Gosh, when was the last time I sang that lullaby? I almost cried. Although they’ve grown so much they’re still my babies. So I closed my eyes and hugged them tight and remembered those beautiful verses from Billy Joel.
“Lullaby (Goodnight, My Angel)”
Goodnight, my angel
Time to close your eyes
And save these questions for another day
I think I know what you’ve been asking me
I think you know what I’ve been trying to say
I promised I would never leave you
And you should always know
Wherever you may go
No matter where you are
I never will be far away
Goodnight, my angel
Now it’s time to sleep
And still so many things I want to say
Remember all the songs you sang for me
When we went sailing on an emerald bay
And like a boat out on the ocean
I’m rocking you to sleep
The water’s dark
And deep inside this ancient heart
You’ll always be a part of me
Goodnight, my angel
Now it’s time to dream
And dream how wonderful your life will be
Someday your child may cry
And if you sing this lullaby
Then in your heart
There will always be a part of me
Someday we’ll all be gone
But lullabies go on and on…
They never die
That’s how you
And I
Will be
Now I’m no Adele. My voice sucks, but my baby boys LOVED it. That night they fell right to sleep. No one came out for water, the bathroom, a scratch, a tissue, or an extra kiss. They slept like little angels. I’m forever grateful for that little request, a little reassurance that they’re still my babies and they still need their mommy.
Awwww…I just got super teary eyed! That is soooo sweet!!
Sorry. No tears allowed.
Maizie is 10 and she still insists we sing a song she made up with my husband when she was about 2. Oh yea, you have to rub her arm as you sing it.
Too cute!
This is so sweet. My kiddos don’t ask for songs anymore before bed either. I used to have to sing my daughter four in a very particular order for her to settle down.
It goes too fast and sometimes you don’t even realize it. Love that she had to have them in a certain order. So cute.