"Once On a Time"
Several weeks ago, I
mentioned
that we don't read bedtime stories to Berkeley any more, instead we have
him close his eyes while he imagines the stories we make up on-the-fly.
This was Kristy's fantastic idea and I must her props
(That's gold, Kristy! Gold!).
Last night (Friday night) was no different than any other night,
I had Berkeley close his eyes and told him a story. I always begin
by saying "Once Upon a Time" and end by saying "The End". Whereupon
Berkeley immediately blurted out "That's a great story, Daddy!"
(every story is a "great story" to Berkeley). Then, since he loves
to procrastinate my departure from his room, he will almost invariably
have a question to ask.
"Daddy, tell another story to Berkeley? ...please.", he'll petition.
I usually tell him no, and that there will be another story tomorrow,
that he should close his eyes and go to sleep. Then I'll give him a
kiss and leave his room. However, last night I turned the tables on
him.
"How about I close my eyes Berkeley, and you tell me a story?", I
suggested.
"Okay, Daddy."
So he told me a story while I closed my eyes. It was fantastic. There
was a dog and a cat and he took them to Grandma's house (we are
traveling to Utah to see Berkeley's Grandma and Grandpa Berrett next
week).
Tonight, we repeated the same routine. I told him a story while he
closed his eyes, then he told me a story while I closed mine. Both
nights he has started his story the same way:
"Once On a Time..."
I'll try and record some of his improvised narratives in future journal
entries.
|