What do you remember about bedtime in your house when you were a child?

Question

Did your Mom or Dad read a story to you?

Do you do that with your own childern?

Answer 1

It was just "lights out!" at 8:30 p.m. during school days, but my sisters and I continued the story-telling and giggling till we were really sleepy.

Answer 2

I come from a family of five children, including myself. Two girls, and three boys, I'm the oldest. Sadly I've lost a brother in war, and a sister to a drunk driver.
My other brother (two years younger than me) lives in Holland, and we try to see one another every year or two.
My sister has M.S. which turned progressive several years ago, and it's quite sad to watch her deteriorate knowing nothing can be done to stop this disease.

Growing up we had so much fun together. Even though I was always the designated babysitter, I didn't mind all that much, they were good kids for the most part!
Thank goodness I have a great memory. Members of my family are amazed at how many events, places etc, that they've long forgotten, that are still right with me!
One of my fondest memories was after Mom and Dad would go to bed, my brothers, sisters and I would perform for each other. We would sneak to one another's bedroom door ever so quietly and do a short little dance, make a funny face, or something like that. Then zip back to our rooms and wait for the next performance! These antics would go on for an hour or more at times!
I had my own room, my brothers shared a room, as did my sisters. The hall light was always kept on because my siblings were afraid of the dark when they were young!
We all knew exactly where to place our feet so not to make the floor squeak. I remember one night I was doing this crazy jig type thing, and my heel kicked the wall so hard it put a small dent in it! Dad heard this, and since he wasn't quite as stealthy as us kids, I could hear footsteps as he approached his bedroom door. I immediately made a light footed mad dash for my room in true 'Mission Impossible' style, dodging all the squeaky spots, and quietly dove under my covers. I tell you, sometimes it was so hard not to laugh, because we were all such clowns. It's a wonder Mom and Dad never heard us more often. The again, maybe they did?
I miss those days!

Answer 3

I remember crying myself to sleep because I just heard and/or saw my Dad beat the crap out of my Mother because she made him dinner and it was not as good as he wanted it to be or some such other minor infraction. Those were the lucky nights. The others, I would cry myself to sleep because I had just had the crap beat out of me after a good verbal thrashing worthy of the Guiness book for nothing that I could think of, so I imagined up things that I MUST have done wrong in order to rationalize what was happening. I have been on medication most of my life because of it.

I can only hope you are asking for other reasons. I wouldn't wish my living nightmares on anyone.

As for how I treat my own children, I naturally beat them after I yell at their Mom all night before bed. J/K. I broke the violent cycle. I have made it my life to make sure that I am educated, refined, and have no will to beat people. My children got a good story instead of a good thrashing, a good conversation instead of verbal abuse. I am rewarded with grown, loving children. Imagine that?

You want to know the sick side of this? My parents get a loving child also. I forgive my Father for his indiscretions, and he dares not raise his voice or hand to me now. I think he has watched how I raised mine and actually learned from it. Double imagine that?

Answer 4

Getting yelled at when my brothers and I would go to bed and then talk and laugh together. I wonder if they remember that stuff. Anyway, we all three shared a room. My older brother had his own bed while me and my younger brother had to sleep in the bunk beds. I do remember lifting his bed up with my feet from below. That was always fun.

Answer 5

I would always give my dad a goodnight kiss first and then my mom. It HAD to be in that order. Then I would make my mom pinky promise that she wouldn't go outside while I was in bed...then, I would just go to bed. That was it.

Answer 6

Yes, I read to my children..but mom &- dad did it a tad differently. "Go to bed!", "Don't keep crackin' that door open. Keep it closed!".......My sis and hated the dark and the door shut. We would try and slowly open it just a crack....until daddy dearest would tie it closed with a rope to the bathroom door until they went to bed. Nighty nite and sweet dreams...

Answer 7

My mother would tuck me in and I would watch the ceiling (since there was a night light on) until I fell asleep.

Answer 8

Yea i hated it 8:00 PM

Answer 9

That the traffic sounds outside were comforting. (I grew up in New York City.)

Answer 10

i remember my mom used to read a book to me and my siblings then i will have to go to bed after it was over and lights out after she kiss us and that was it