Late Nights

When I was growing up, if I woke up in the middle of the night because of a bad dream or because I was sick or for some other reason and couldn't get back to sleep, I always knew that if I went to the livingroom, there would be my Mom, reading a book and watching TV. Always there to help me back to sleep or let me stay up and watch an old late night movie to get me on my way.

I didn't understand this at the time, but now that I am a parent, I do and have talked to her about it. At the end of the day after the kids are in bed, the dogs are walked, and toys put away, I feel it necessary to have time to myself. And, just like my Mom, I old shows, mostly Rockford Files, or something on Discovery Channel. And, on occation, my 8yr old daughter has gotten up for some reason or another, and I was there for her. And I have on occation, fallen asleep on the couch and had to sneak to bed at 3am just like I had caught my Mom asleep on the couch.

Funny how things like that work out. When I least expect it, I find myself doing things just like my parents did. I guess parents can teach their children without realizing it. And children learn from their parents without realizing it. I learned from the best.

I hope my kids don't learn my Dr. Pepper habbit.