Good Night Moon was written in 1947. It’s beauty and appeal for children must be the colorful pictures that darken as the story goes on, the cadence of the words, and the simplicity of the message. Of course there was a time in my life when I thought it would be impossible to endure yet another reading of this classic children's book.
And so it went….. “In the great green room, there was a telephone and a red balloon.” Our copy was made of the thick cardboard: required book material for babies who like to eat books and toddlers who like to tear bindings and pages.
Giana chose this book nightly during her toddler years “And a picture of a cow jumping over the moon.” We added to the story by saying good night to everything in the house, everything outside, and all the people we knew. It went on and on. She would sit on my lap on the rocker and we would "read" together. She would turn the pages while I read softly aloud (there was a goal here-to get her to sleep. Oh yes and to instill a love of reading.) “And there were three little bears sitting on chairs.” At one point, I believe it was possible we read it 267 consecutive nights. I knew every word by heart. Ahhhh yes, by heart.
And then one day, it went away. There must have been a “last time” reading but I cannot recall. Was it a gradual weaning or did we quit cold turkey? What I know is that, without ceremony, one night we said "Good Night" to Good Night Moon.
The next stage of reading, of course, was better than the first. I insisted that her Big Girl Bed be full sized. How else would we be able to read together and fit comfortably? This was my logical explanation for needing the BIG bed. And so night after night, Daddy or Mommy (baby brother was here by now) would read stories as our little (not so little--big girl) listened and loved.
Then my baby girl was not a baby anymore. She was able to read simple books on her own. The next stage was the simple chapter books. And so the journey continued. Recently, we have been reading together in a more hybrid style. She reads a page and then I read a page.
Suddenly, two night’s ago, she was the only one doing the reading....... silently...... and there I was, lying next to her staring at the ceiling.
So last night, I grabbed my own book, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, laid down next to her and read silently while she read her own book silently, The Chronicles of Narnia.
"That's a movie,” I interrupted her.
"Yes" she whispered back, and "your book is going to be a movie soon too."
Our definition of reading together has changed. It was probably not the last time she will read out loud to me nor the last time I will read to her, but clearly we are moving in a new direction; heading to the next stages of life- the one where we are not so completely connected, not so intertwined, not always on the same “page”. In fact, her pages now are starting to belong to only her. That night felt symbolic. While we lay there next to each other, it was clear: we will move towards a parallel existence at some point, and we will have our own books and live our own stories. Hopefully we will continue to share, but this time, as two grown, adult women (much like my own mother and myself today). I know I have many more years until that moment becomes real but I see signs of it everywhere.
So tonight I declare a ceremony, a graduation of sorts. The closure I never made. To reflect on the end of an era, to celebrate the achievement of a goal, and to look beyond to the next stage. Here is my speech; Good Night Good Night Moon and the red balloon. Good Night stars, Good night air. Good night noises everywhere. Time to go to bed. You have done your job well. The sun's rising will signal another day and another chapter (another book perhaps). And so we welcome it.
Good Morning Sun.