Excellent One rule ... And a smile on your face! by Wendy G      Beddy-Bye Lullaby. Contest Winner

When he was about five or six, young Tim wanted to be grown-up. To him the best thing about being grown-up would be staying awake all night. How exciting that would be! But it was such a long time to wait. His bed-time was 7:30, and he wasn't meant to reappear until 6:30 the next morning. He had to check his bed-side clock before disturbing Mum and Dad. They did not want to get up early – probably because they had stayed awake all night! After he was put to bed each night, Tim found a variety of reasons to get up again – a drink of water, a bathroom visit, or he had forgotten to tell them something. Whatever excuse he could think of .... Mum and Dad became a little impatient, and asked why he was always getting up. Finally he admitted it. "I just want to be grown-up! I want to stay awake all night! That would be so amazing! Please let me stay awake all night!" The following Friday night, Mum said to Tim, "You don't have school tomorrow. It won't matter if you are a bit tired. Dad and I have talked about it, and we think you are old enough to stay awake all night, if you really want to. But there are a few things to think about and agree to first." How exciting! Tim listened carefully. Mum explained that the Tooth Fairy, the Easter Bunny, and Santa Claus only visited when children were asleep, so if he ever stayed awake during those nights then he had to PRETEND he was asleep and keep his eyes closed. "That's fine!" agreed Tim readily. "I'll start practising right away. It's not Christmas or Easter, and I haven't got any loose teeth yet, so by the time they come around, I'll be really good at staying awake all night, and it will be easy just to pretend I'm asleep while they visit." "There is also one rule, that Dad and I have agreed to, if you want to stay awake all night," Mum continued. "You must keep your head on your pillow and a smile on your face!"  "Okay! That's good! I'll do that, that's very easy!" Tim was so happy he leaned back on his pillow and had the biggest smile on his face. Mum kissed him good-night, but instead of wishing him happy dreams, she said, "Enjoy staying awake, Dear!" Of course, Tim fell fast asleep, very quickly. But each time he talked with Mum or Dad about it, they just said he needed more practice and should just keep trying. Time flew past. Tim grew up, and got married. When he was a grown-up, he no longer wanted to stay up all night. Especially when the babies came. When his first little one, Shara,  was around five or six years old, she said to Tim, "Daddy, I want to be like you and Mum! I want to be grown-up! I want to stay awake all night!" Tim smiled and said to her, "Of course, you may stay awake all night. I understand perfectly. But there are a few things for you to think about and agree to first!" "What is it Daddy?" Shara asked eagerly. "When the Tooth Fairy, the Easter Bunny or Santa Claus come, you must close your eyes and PRETEND to be asleep, because they only come to children who are asleep! And Mum and I have agreed that there's just one rule… you must keep your head on the pillow and a smile on your face!" "Thank you Daddy! That's so exciting! That's easy! I'll start right away." "Goodnight Shara! Enjoy staying awake!" said Dad. So Shara leaned back on her pillow, and had the biggest smile on her face. Tim left her room ... with the biggest smile on his face. Beddy-Bye Lullaby. Contest Winner

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