Remember that moment when you were an adult and you realized for the first time you parents knew exactly what you were doing when you thought you were pulling one over on them? You’re a little surprised, and more than a little respectful that they were way more on top of things then you gave them credit for.
As a parent, I realize those moments as they happen and I love each of them more as my kids get older and older.
For example, almost every morning my boys like to share how they’re crazy rebels because they stayed up later than eight. We put them in bed at eight and we tend to “remind” them two or three times to quiet down then we leave them alone.
I’m guessing they think we don’t hear them anymore, but the truth is they go on chatting for a good ten to twenty minutes after we’ve last warned them to be quiet or else.
Or else what? What they don’t know is that we (or at least I) don’t actually care if they quiet down because I secretly love listening to the chatter. It’s different than their day-time interactions. This is quiet talk, where dreams are discovered and plans are made.
Never fear, what I’m doing can’t be considered eaves dropping because I mostly don’t understand what they are talking about. They’re make-believe, Lego and video game knowledge surpassed mine long ago. They might as well be speaking Greek in their beds at night, but it doesn’t matter, it’s the sound of their voices that I love.
When I was young, I never shared a room with a sibling, but, many a great conversation was had with my best friend in parallel, pink-gingham covered twin beds. Into college, my roommates and I made some life-altering decisions about our majors, our loves and our lives in that quiet talking that happens after you’ve both said goodnight.
There is something magic in those conscience clearing moments in the dark right before your brain goes into renewal every night. I loved them growing up and I love hearing my boys are getting them too, even if it means that lights-out doesn’t mean bedtime just yet.
That’s my mom secret. What’s yours?
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