Bedtime Songs…
From an evening this past week…
There will come a quiet evening that none of my children needs a bedtime song. I’m down to one presently, and it’s no longer an “every night” request with him. While there are still nighttime routines with the older two, they are down-sized versions of what they used to be. 
I accept the passage even if I waver in embracing it. They are each growing into people I’m proud to know. I know there must have been a night way back in my childhood that I didn’t call out, “Tuck me in!” And I’m sure my parents eventually noticed it as a bitter-sweet “transition” (although, with three younger daughters hollering in the background, it may have taken them a while)…
I just sang “Moon River” over the phone. It’s what we do when the kids “overnight” with their dad. They have each had their own special songs: “Edelweiss”, “‘Til there was You” and assorted slightly-warped masterpieces I created that included their individual names. Hannah used to ask me for her dreams each night, “What shall I dream about, Mommy?” ~And I’d whisper the first strokes of an idea for her to embellish in her sleep before tiptoeing from her room.
But we’ve definitely arrived in a different zone now. It comes to all of us parents. Our children grow as they should and as we desire.
But I may sing myself to sleep when that quiet evening comes… old “habits of the heart”.
For me it was singing “Cats in the Cradle” (Harry Chapin) to my son while sitting in the rocking chair. I keep the song on my iPod and still smile and think back whenever I hear it.
Moon River is a lovely song to sing.
What a beautiful ritual. What song will you use to sing yourself to sleep?
StewartAllyn: Now, that’s a sweet memory… and a great song. And I gotta say ~ if I had a kid wanting “bedtime songs” at age thirty, it would be cause for concern! I just want to linger a little longer…
Jean-Luc: One of my favorites ~and the best part of “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”…
Intrepid: Hmmm… There are so many candidates, and I love so many classical melodies that have no words at all…
My current sing-loudly-when-alone numbers are: “The Star Spangled Banner”, “Moon River”, and “I Only Have Eyes for You.” ~Can’t see myself drifting off to the National Anthem with all the embellishments I give to it (yikes). “I Only Have Eyes for You” isn’t the kind of song you sing to yourself (ha). Looks like “Moon River” wins! It holds a winsome sort of wandering that aligns well with my own curiosities.
I like “What a Wonderful World” too but don’t know all the words to that one… Yet.
Great choices. We’ll have to get you on wax!
Oh, but they grow up so, so quickly. My son is 18 and I can still feel him in my arms. I am so glad that I took the time to stop at each stage and to cherish it. Now I have the memories of all those moments.
What a beautiful mom post, Heather. You have a special family.
I sang “Rock a Bye Baby” and We’re Poor Little Sheep – not sure of the title..
Great family photos!!! I love blogs because of lovely posts like this.
Hugs, JJ
Although I did sing in different language, but it does bring me back to long time ago. My youngest kid is now 12 years old.
We love blog.
Intrepid: Thank you sir! The more children you tuck in, the better you sing? Hoping…
Suzanne: I can remember the weight, the smell, the little sounds of my babies too. Being a new mom always felt like the luckiest place to live… ~But as they move from “needing” to “knowing”, so many new places open up. I’m thinking/hoping there are a lot of lovely memories yet to be.
JJ: “Rock-a-bye” was another good one (although I altered the words a little so that the baby doesn’t actually fall!). “Jesus Loves Me”, “Scarborough Fair”, “Greensleeves”, “Blue is My World”… (and all the great Christmas songs!)
Rainfield61: Those moments before sleep are so precious. I think it’s when time finally stands still for us. Momentarily, at least.
~And “thank you”. I will be a regular visitor to your site; insightful and quite interesting!