Kyle's Suggestion

29/01/2007
Since end of last year, the night routine for Kyle was for him to have his milk, brush his teeth and then storybook time before he is put into bed with hugs and kisses and then leave the door open for him as he goes to sleep. On good days, he compliantly goes to sleep all by himself without kicking too much of a fuss as he knows that I have to 'keep his daddy company' but sometimes, he will request that I stay inside with him for about 5-10 mins so that he can 'tell you about my school'. Other times, he will make his 'rounds' in the living room, asking for extra hug or kiss from his daddy or me or simply sneaking out to see what we were watching on TV.

That night, after storytime, as usual, I tucked him into bed. He asked for 10 more minutes to tell me about his school. Halfway, the conversation went something like this :

K : Mommy, can you go back to work?
Me : Why? You don't like mommy to stay at home to keep you company?
( In my heart, I was thinking if my hubby had bribed him to say that!)
K : Yes....I like mommy to stay at home...but can you go and work for a short time everyday?
Me : But why ? Mommy wants to stay home and spend time with you..
K : But I like mommy to work for a little while only..
( I was still thinking of what reasons he could have for saying that)
K : Mommy, you not tired? But I want you to sleep with me!
(Ahhhhh....that's the crunch!)

Background history:
Last year when I was still working, I will be so dead tired that by 9.30, after reading him 1 book, I will hasten him to sleep as I want to sleep myself. So we would be in bed talking about the day and more often than not, I will fall asleep before him by 10pm. This happened only when I was working, thus the request that I go back to work!