A Lot of Ones and Water

When Libby was little(r) she used to insist that after I tucked her in I'd come back in to check on her in her bed.  I always did.  I still do.  She'd say, "A lot of ones and water!" which meant, "Check on me a lot and bring water."  It started as her wanting to know exactly how long I was going to wait before coming in to check on her. I'd tell her ten minutes.  She'd try negotiating down to five, and eventually she understood that one minute goes by way faster than either five or ten.  From there she didn't want me to come back in just one minute, but "a lot of ones and water", which essentially meant, "Come in here every minute 'till you go to bed yourself".

I think agreeing to it was easier for my tired-and-done-with-this-day self rather than explaining exactly what sort of madness she was asking for.  So I'd always reply.  "Yep.  Got it.  A lot of ones and water. For sure.  I'm on it."  Eventually Peyton (from her bed) would yell the same.

It's been a while. I don't know how long since they've asked for a lot of ones and water, but long enough that a once so familiar bedtime mantra wasn't so familiar anymore.  Tonight at bedtime Peyton said, "Mom, what did we used to ask for at bedtime? Watermelon wishes and water?"  I couldn't figure out what she meant.

Watermelon wishes and water?

A lot of ones and water. Yep. Got it. For sure. On it.