I was officially EXHAUSTED from my toddlers whining about not wanting to go to bed. I’d had it up to here. But now I just laugh at it… Why my sudden sense of humor? Because author (and friendly blogger/writer/humorist/woman-and-mom-of-3-extroirdinaire) Sarah Maizes has done it again. Her most recent children’s book, On My Way to Bed, is our current bedtime obsession.
Blurry: We were ‘tug-o-war’-ing it.
Told in first person by a spunky little girl named Livi who does everything in her most-creative power to stall the bedtime process (based on Maizes’ own little girl), On My Way to Bed is a kick in the pants that every parent can relate to… the girl uses every type of stalling tactic that you can think of to save herself from – gasp! – going to bed. (Not only is the story most imaginative, but the illustrations by Michael Paraskevas really are the most vivid mini-stories in themselves, with details that can keep any toddler looking and pointing and occupied for a lot longer than you’d initially think.) On My Way to Bed is now a part of our nightly routine. We jump up and down to read it. We whine to read it. We cry to read it. We fight and push each other off of Mommy’s lap to read it (until I explain that I have two knees, one for each of them to sit on). And when we read it: WE LAUGH. The story is not only creative and hits every classic, pre-bedtime button on the head…. but it’s a FAST read. I truly don’t cringe when my girls ask to read it “again”… I actually really want to. I find myself laughing at and appreciating Livi’s tenacity to prevent from going to bed. Hey girl, don’t give up… I hear your point. And suddenly, even my own daughter’s antics are utterly adorable. And as super-corny as this sounds: I actually have a ball when I read it to my girls… I do voices, I do expressions… I do GOOD PARENTING STUFF. And isn’t that what a good book is supposed to get you to do? So I guess Livi’s antics have even worked on me. Fabulous.
To snag a copy of your own, visit Bloomsbury, Barnes & Noble or Amazon.
But if you don’t believe me… join us for bedtime. (Please pardon the shaky selfie video… I was trying to get these fab kids to bed):
DISCLOSURE: THE FAB MOM WAS PROVIDED WITH A COMPLIMENTARY COPY OF ON MY WAY TO BED FOR PURPOSES OF MENTION AND/OR REVIEW. ALL THOUGHTS AND OPINIONS ARE TRUTHFUL AND MY OWN.
