Sleepy jam

Bedtime is always an event in this household. We try to keep it consistent, at the very least having a sleeptime soundtrack playing to cue the boy’s time for bed.

Lately, it’s been “Please, Star Wars.” (This obsession is a few weeks old and deserves a separate entry.) But his repertoire also includes Music for Calm Babies and Music for Happy Babies, which are compiled albums of classical pieces under their particular themes.

Armand and I differ a bit when it comes to putting Matthew to sleep. I really don’t mind reading long stories and singing many, many songs. Armand likes to put on sleeptime music and sleep (or pretend to sleep) with Matthew. Both styles usually work.

One night, during Armand’s turn to put Matthew to sleep, the boy was a little bit too hyper. Offhand, he really is quite more hyper when around his father. It was taking forever to put him to sleep. I was downstairs cleaning up, and I could hear talking, tickling, and all sorts of activities going on. I figured, it’s Armand’s turn, let him handle it.

Today, Armand revealed that not only was Matthew being extra precocious, he also pulled out a new trick. At one point, Armand did his pretend-sleep: he closed his eyes and hoped Matthew would follow suit. He had already exhausted the Star Wars song, and decided to put an alternative playlist—his especially-selected Joe Satriani music. As Armand closed his eyes, silence settled in. Peeking at Matthew, Armand got a shock. There was the boy, lying on his pillow, his eyes closed and his hand strumming his tummy!

You bet that was one very long night.