The Girl Who Wouldn’t Go To Bed
I wrote this for my daughter in August 2020, mostly out loud, when she wouldn’t go to sleep. Before COVID-19, I would think it was a disaster if I had to pick up my child early from school because she wasn’t feeling well. Not the case any longer.
Once upon a time, there was a five year old girl who was stuck at home because of the COVID-19 quarantine. She would normally have gone to school, but school was closed.
Her parents were also staying home. They were worried about getting the Corona Virus too. But, they also had to work from home, which meant they weren’t giving all their attention to the girl and her sister.
For this five year old girl and her younger almost-three year old sister, it was difficult. Sometimes, especially at bedtime, it would be boring.
Days would sometimes seem endless. In the morning, she would wake up and run downstairs to find her dad and her sister eating breakfast. She’d ask what they were going to do today. Every day seemed a bit different but also a bit the same.
Many of the day’s activities seemed to revolve around phone calls that either her mom or dad had to be on. She knew that during those calls, she wasn’t “supposed” to interrupt but it was hard. They were ALWAYS going on phone calls and it was usually when she needed them the most or had a burning question that demanded an answer.
There were a few activities that could help pass the time.
She loved coloring pages that her parents would print off. She could pick the picture on the computer ([Google search term] + coloring page) and ask for it to be printed. She also loved playing with modeling clay, or cutting out masks and doing other arts and crafts.
Every few days, she’d cook with either her mom or dad something. They’d make salads, cookies, smoothies, or other interesting dishes.
When her imagination caught up with her, she’d go downstairs and play with her toys or run outside with her sister to play in the backyard.
There were two consistent things that happened. During the week in the afternoon, she would have a short class online and in the evening, she would get to watch something on YouTubeKids.
However, when it came time to sleep, she thought it was BORING. Her younger sister repeated it as well. “Sleeping is BOOORING!”.
“What are we going to do tomorrow? Will something come in the mail? From Amazon? Where are we going to go? When are we going back to school?”
“I don’t know,” I respond, “but it’s time to go to bed.”
“BOOOOORRRRIIINNNGGG!!”
A big hug and big kiss for her and her sister. Lights down. It was time for sleep. Pitter patter, pitter patter. She would come down the stairs and say “I don’t want to sleep”.
Back upstairs, back in bed. Five minutes later, she’d be back down again.
Finally, after five times of back and forth upstairs, downstairs, upstairs, the girl was tired. While she was still bored, she couldn’t fight sleep any longer and slept through until the next morning.
