How Grandmas Do Bedtime

My grandma used the “wear them out” strategy. She let us stay up late, past the 11 0’clock news, to watch the horse races. Airborne Pickle, Any Luck, Atomic Donut. We knew nothing about horses, betting solely by names, with a stash of pennies she had given us. Bacon Jack, Bali Who, Bungee Bottom. We piled on the couch with licorice treats and drinks on coasters, and could hardly settle down for the gate. Cadilackey, Cash Cow, Cranky Petunia. At the finish, we’d be jumping up and down, hollering at the TV, and reluctantly surrendering pennies. We had to quit at midnight because of neighbors downstairs.

Today’s Mommy blogs expound on bedtimes struggles, and with good reason in their busy lives, but the kids will respond to you differently than they do their parents. Have a plan, even for that extra drink of water request. Is there a song you sang to their dad? A story about him that only you could tell? A funny joke for one last giggle? Even with all of that, I tend to be short and sweet about bedtime – the child gets to pick a book, and Grandma does too. Here is a “Reader’s Dozen” of outstanding bedtime books for young Grands, chosen by Children's Literature professionals - Karen Ritz and Rebecca Rapport