I have a visitor nearly every night at 10:00 p.m. (Technically, it’s 9:58 p.m. since Ari nudges my clock two minutes forward every time I reset it.) At first, my sweet blond boy would appear and say, “I heard a noise,” and I would offer to comfort him and walk him back to his bedroom.
I realized I was being played after the third night of 10 p.m. “noises.” I offered a hug and a quick snuggle, but told Ari to walk himself back to bed. Luckily, he did.
Over the course of the past month, I have not overheard any 10 p.m. noises. Not a siren. Not a train. Not even a horse and buggy (and that is a thing where we live). How do I know? I am reading in bed at night — every night — at that time. I never hear anything! In the past week, Ari has stopped saying he heard something since he knows I’m on to his game.
This evening, Ari told me that he spied “Daddy working in his office” across the hall from his bedroom. I knew better to ask, “Why didn’t you go in to see Daddy?” I know why. He wants to see me. For some reason, I think he likes to know that I’m just down the hall, reading a book, every evening. There must be something reliable about me and a book in bed.
I have no idea how many more nights I’ll be receiving a visitor at 10 p.m. I just know that he’s at his snuggliest when he comes in at 10 p.m.
Marc came into our bedroom about five minutes after Ari closed his bedroom door. “I see you had a visitor.”
“I did,” I replied.
“I saw him come out of his bedroom before. I looked up and said, ‘Are you going to visit Mommy?’ He just smiled and walked into you.”
Raising Literate Humans 
This is so so sweet. You know how to cherish moments like this.
Thanks, Terje! I’ve been wanting to capture it for a few weeks. I only thought to do it the other night. 😊
A sweet goodnight.
Enjoy those sweet visits. And remember.
I bet Ari’s day is not complete w/ out his nightly visit. It’s such a beautiful, simple gesture of love and protection. ❤️
He’s quite irresistible when he comes in at that time of night… especially since he tucks himself back into bed a minute or two after he arrives.
Some day, you’ll miss these visits. How sweet that you take this time for an extra snuggle. Sweet boy.
He didn’t come in the past two nights and I have to say… I missed them. (Might say a little bit about the book I’m reading now too.)
I love the late night visits! But my visitor has started turning off my lamp so I will stop reading.
Ooof, Lisa! That wouldn’t bode well with me!
This. This is what Slice of Life is all about. This is simple, and beautiful, and sweet. I’m hoping that you’ll save this Slice and come back to it on a hard or frustrating day, or in a moment where you’re just wanting to visit the younger version of who this sweet little boy is becoming. Thank you for this smile today.
I love the suggestion to revisit this slice, in particular, on a hard or frustrating day since he’s always at pique sweetness at 10 p.m.
They’re so AMAZING when they’re asleep ; )