pillow talk

I have noticed something about Emma: she loves adult conversation. She prefers to listen to the adults than to play with her friends sometimes. I remember being the same way as a kid.

We have hit a milestone - finally, ALL of our kids are in bed within about 20 minutes of each other. It is a little crazy (especially for me doing it alone), but then it is all done. Emma would stay up reading until midnight every night if I let her, so Sadie's earlier and earlier bedtime was definitely infringing on her reading time. Now that Sadie goes to bed before Emma she has a hard time reading. So, we have replaced it. I put Sadie down and while she fusses for a minute and settles in, I lay with Emma and we talk. Well, whisper. About whatever she wants. I should have known how meaningful this was to Emma, but the other night I had Young Women and she asked if I would be home in time for us to have "our talks."

So what do we talk about? According to Emma, "girl drama." I so don't miss elementary school drama, where people are friends one day and mortal enemies the next. I know a lot about her classmates, and their families, boys ("stupid boys"), and fashion, etc. Now that I know just how much it means to her I make more of an effort.

It's helpful that I enjoy and like her so much. It is sometimes like talking to a friend.