The Literal Child...Literally

My son never ceases to amaze me.  We just put him to bed a few minutes ago....and voila!  Here he is (right over there actually....see...I'm pointing that way) to let us know that he has concerns about his night light.  He is worried over the possibility that it will burn out tonight - and that he would like the bulb replaced right now if you please!  My wife is taking care of that as I type this.  Now - where was I?  This posting wasn't to be about night lights and suspicions of monsters that are waiting to get him....that was just an interesting aside.  Live action blogging!!

So last night....we put the little man to bed (we tend to do that every night....go figure)....when he decides that after a mere 30 seconds that he can't sleep and that I need to deal with it.  What am I?  Mr. Sandman or something?  He climbs on top of me as I'm sitting on the couch, gets himself all nice and cozy....and proclaims that sleep will be impossible this evening.  Here follows the conversation:


Dad?  I can't sleep.


Really?  You've only been in bed for a minute....you haven't even tried.


I know what I know.  And I know that sleep will not happen tonight.


Really?


Yes.  Really.  Aren't you listening?


What?


Don't say that!


Ok...well...how can I help?


You can't.


Really now?


Yes.  Really now.


Well.....have you tried counting sheep?


Sheep?  What sheep?  There are no sheep!  I don't understand.


Well....sometimes when people have trouble sleeping...they try and count sheep.


Where are the sheep?


They imagine them in their head.


No they don't.  You're making that up.


No dude....I'm serious.


Well....that just won't work for me.  I don't like that idea one bit.  Who ever heard of imaginary sheep?


Well....how about we go downstairs and get some of your plastic sheep?


Oh.  Yes.  That might work.


So.....we go downstairs, and by some miracle are actually able to find the complete set of plastic Playmobil sheep.  No small miracle there considering the state of the basement.


Nicholas herds all the sheep together....and we bring them to his room.  The sheep are tossed on the bed where he proceeds to literally count the sheep.  1....2....3....4....and so on.


All the sheep have been counted and placed in a row on his shelf above his bed.  Nicholas proceeds to lay down, and I tuck him in.  All the doggies have been accounted for.  The blankets are in the correct order.  Everything is good.


I ask him if he will be able to sleep now....he mumbles something - I'm not really sure what it was....as he was actually falling asleep before my very eyes.


See Nicholas?  Counting sheep does work!  :)  Turns out I am the Sandman!  Eat your heart out Lars Ulrich!


If you've enjoyed this blog posting and look forward to being able to read more, then perhaps I can persuade you to sponsor me in the upcoming Walk Now for Autism event which is taking place on June 20 in Toronto.  My goal is to raise $500....and I'm already about half way to my goal.  Please contribute any amount that you are able to by clicking here.