Dream Dust

I got home last night just as the boys were off to sleep for the night. I went upstairs to kiss them both goodnight. Aidan peeked out from his half closed bedroom door and whispered furtively, "I was waiting for you Mom. I don't want to go to sleep without your Mommy Dust."

No, I don't drug my kids or anything, but I have created a little fiction to help ease the worry of the dark and nighttime. Aidan has dubbed it the "Mommy Dust."

Last year, Aidan woke up from a dead sleep screaming in terror from a nightmare. I cuddled him until his crying stopped, but he still refused to go back to sleep because he was scared of having another bad dream. Upon hearing this, I gasped and told him the bad dream had really been my fault because I had forgotten to dust his pillow with the promise of good dreams before he went to sleep. I reached into my pocket and pretended to grab a handful of dust. I carefully spread the dust over the pillow, securely patted it in place and told Aidan he had to place his head on the pillow to absorb the promise of good dreams.

It worked like a charm. Aidan told Brennan about the special powers of Mommy Dust and now it is part of our nighttime ritual. Books, cuddles, a hug (or two or three), and some Mommy Dust to top it all off. They have both requested the "dust recipe", but I told them it is a special magic reserved for mommies. I did promise to share the magic of the dust with them someday when they have children.

Last night, after sharing the Mommy Dust with Aidan, I went into give Brennan a kiss goodnight. He smiled and immediately asked for some of the dust on his pillow. I complied and he told me, "Because of the dust momma I am going to have good dreams. I will dream of hockey and soccer and football and swimming and baseball and me at sports!" He stopped for a second, smiled at me again and said softly, "And you too Momma. You are in my good dreams too."

Thank goodness for the promise of good dreams - all thanks to a little pretend Mommy Magic.