We have a new bedtime routine at the Brink house. I tuck them in bed and I ask them three questions. What was the best thing in your day? What was the worst thing in your day? Is there anything you want to ask about or talk about?
I start with Eli. “Best thing?”
“Climbing the snow hill with Will.”
“Worst thing?”
“Emma bit me.”
“Ouch! Anything you want to ask about or talk about?”
“Nah.”
Kiss, hug, and by the time I’m closing the door, he’s already working on his legos. He doesn’t even see me go.
Next up is Emma.
“Best thing?”
“Well, first I did this… And then Rainbow Dash did this… And then this happened… and we went over here… and then something else… and then…”
“Wow! That sounds like a great day. How about worst thing. Anything bad happen?”
“Eli kicked me.”
“Ouch! Anything you want to ask me about or talk about?”
“Yeah. First I did this… And then Rainbow Dash did this… And then this happened… and we went over here… and then something else… and then…”
Kiss, hug, and by the time I’m closing the door she’s already playing with her horses again. They wave to me as I close the door.
Last one is Aiden.
“Best thing?”
“Going to the coffee shop with you.”
“You liked talking with the guys at the table?”
“Yeah.”
“Worst thing?”
“Piano.” (It’s always piano. He hates practicing.)
And then we get to the last question of the night.
“Anything you want to ask about or talk about?”
“Yeah. Ummm. Dad? Who’s God’s dad?”
They’re all like that! Every night! “Yeah. Ummm. Dad? Where does wind come from? Why don’t the just bring a generator on the space station instead of those giant solar panels? Why did Napoleon want to take over everything? If helicopters can do more things than planes, why not just use helicopters? How does a tree fit inside a seed?”
It’s amazing. Same parents. Same house. Three very different kids. Three totally different strategies for life. Eli is going to have fun. Emma is going to make friends. Aiden is going to figure things out.
