Sweet Dreams

Every now and then, the kids will ask for stories about when they were babies. T doesn't do it very much anymore, usually only when he's had a bad day and just wants a little extra time and attention.  A few weeks ago, he'd had a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day and it seemed like everything sent him off into a rage or a puddle of tears.

As we started the bedtime routine, he asked if I would rock him for a little while.

Okay, the kid is 2/3 as tall as I am. How on earth am I going to rock him? Plus the rocking chair is in S's room. But you know what? We made it work.

I did, however, have T hanging off all over the place.

One of the stories he loves best (no idea why) is the one where I talk about trying to get him to sleep before we figured out he wasn't getting enough to eat. He would just cry and cry and cry, and I would rock and sing, rock and sing, rock and sing. Once we figured out that hunger was the problem and bedtimes got way easier, I'd still rock him before bedtime. It soothed me as much as it's ever soothed him, I think.

When I ran out of kiddie songs, I'd sing him James Taylor, Jimmy Buffet, REM, and the Beatles...anything I could think of that was mellow. One of the songs I heard while pregnant and decided I'd sing to my kids was a song by the Dixie Chicks off their Home album. It's called Godspeed (Sweet Dreams). I don't think I'd sung it for years, but I sang it that night and every night since both kids have asked for it as part of their good night song set.

If you want to read about the story behind the song (and it's worth a look), click here. Then have tissues ready for when you listen to it. Lots of them.

The YouTube link is here (of the Dixie Chicks, not me natch) and here by the actual song writer if you aren't a DC fan.

Here are the lyrics:

Dragon tales and water is wide
Pirates sail and lost boys fly
Fish bite moon beams every night
and I love you

Godspeed, little man
Sweet dreams, little man
Oh my love will fly to you each night on angel's wings
Godspeed
Sweet Dreams

Rocket racer's all tuckered out
Superman's in pajamas on the couch
Goodnight moon, will find the mouse
and I love you

Godspeed little man
Sweet dreams little man
All my love will fly to you each night on angel's wings
Godspeed
Sweet dreams

God bless Mommy and Match Box cars
God bless Dad and thanks for the stars
God hears amen wherever we are
And I love you

Godspeed little man
Sweet dreams little man
Oh my love will fly to you each night on angel's wings
Godspeed, godspeed, godspeed
Sweet dreams

You'll need to excuse me, I have to go blow my nose and look at baby pictures now.