Stories from the Stringam Family Ranches of Southern Alberta

From the 50s and 60s to today . . .



Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Tucked In

Success!

Routines are important.
Especially when one has many small bodies that one is trying to shuffle into bed.
The bedtime ritual in the Tolley household was probably one of the most adhered-to in the entire day.
Little, wiggling bodies were scrubbed clean.
Teeth brushed.
Hair combed.
Jammies donned.
Stories read.
Family prayer said.
And lastly, the all-important Ceremony of the Tucking In.
The grand and glorious final scene in the whole bedtime scenario.
I won't mention here that the tucking in was usually immediately followed by the "I can't sleep" or "I wanna drink of water" or the all important "I have to go pee".
Okay, maybe I will.
Moving on . . .
One of our children, particularly, looked forward to being tucked in each night.
Our daughter, Tiana.
She would emerge happily from the bathroom, sparkling clean and dressed for bed and announce to her Dad, "I'm ready!"
Whereupon (good word) he would drop the evening paper and follow her to the bedroom she shared with her sister.
Then would follow the boosting into bed.
The careful molding of the blankets around the warm little body.
And the ever important good-night kiss.
Then lights were doused, doors closed and Mom and Dad could relax.
At least until the post-tucking parade began.
One evening, Tiana announced to her father that she was ready to be tucked in.
Then realized that she had forgotten something and disappeared.
But notice had been given.
Dad was already on the move.
He went to her room, performed his usual ceremony.
Then resumed his chair and his reading.
Tiana re-appeared.
"I'm ready now," she said.
Her father looked at her. "I already tucked you in," he said.
"What? I'm right here! You didn't tuck me in!"
"Well, I tucked somebody in."
Tiana ran to her room.
"You tucked in my teddy bear!" she said loudly.
Her father grinned into his newspaper. "Well, I tucked in what was there," he said.
"Dad!"
After that, it was a race to see who could get to Tiana's room first.
She, grinning as her father was forced to perform the usual ceremony.
Or her father, who would then tuck in whatever was close at hand.
Clothing.
Toys.
Books.
Homework.
Muffy.
I repeat. Routines are important.

12 comments:

  1. Sis, some of your stories could make cartoons, or maybe a sitcom. Just thought I'd let you know...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Wouldn't that be fun?! A sitcom that no one would have to censor! Maybe . . .

      Delete
  2. What a sweet story! It reminds me of my own family's "tucking in" rituals. Now, our grown kids (when they're home) are the ones wishing us a good-night while they stay up late!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's where we are now. Gramma and Grampa are the first ones to bed. Our kids are still going strong and we have totally crashed!

      Delete
  3. How fun. How exactly like my dad. If someone phoned and asked "Is Joanne there?" he'd reply "Yes" and hang up the phone.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I wish we could have gotten your Dad and mine together. Or maybe not . . .

      Delete
  4. More like the "family circus" cartoons in the paper with dolly and jeffy etc.... This story particularly would made a great little cartoon in a circle.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I loved those cartoons! Huh. Maybe because they were so close to home . . .

      Delete
  5. Diane, this is most definitely the kind of post that makes me think of the many times I wished if my kids could stay little forever. When they're young and small, they're so loving, so warm and fuzzy! Not that they can't be loving as adults, but somehow it's not the same, is it? :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, Bella, it's so true! You wish you could just hang onto them and keep them little forever! But they grow up and do crazy things like . . . get married. Have babies of their own. Sigh.

      Delete
  6. lol
    Ya those were the good ol days. :)

    ReplyDelete

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