Mum’s talk... by Sarah Reid
The thought of ending the day without a bedtime story (or fi ve) would be unthinkable to my little ones – at least as baffl ing as turning the TV to a channel that isn’t CBeebies. Just why would you?
Even when I think they’re so taken with an illustration they can’t possibly be listening to the words, a tiny slip with a character’s name or dialogue proves that’s absolutely not the case as I am quickly corrected. These girls are multitasking already!
That’s the easy way, of course, a book that comes with a pre-prepared start, middle and end, not to mention some pictures.
The nights that give me the fear are when I am faced with a request for The Magic Frog, The Magic Kitten or The Magic Something Else.
Now, I know we don’t have any books by those names - which can mean only one thing. Spontaneous creativity is expected of me.
The key is never to let them sense your panic. You plough on bravely and make pauses seem dramatic, rather than wholly necessary. While I am internally condemning the fl aws in my plot, the little ones are revelling in a story which has as its lead characters them and various other people they know. (I’m not telling you what names I give to the villains!) Thankfully, I have never been asked for the same story a second time, which might stretch my memory and attention to detail a little too far. And I don’t do pictures; I draw the line at drawing.
But you have to be on your game, and vigilant to the odd unexpected question from the fl oor. (Hint, it’s always a good plan to have an idea what your lead protagonist eats for
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breakfast, what kind of birthday cake she had and if her mum lets her kick a football in the house).
I try to squeeze a subtle moral in at the end; something along the lines of good things happening to children who love their mummy or keep their bedroom tidy, but if I’m honest I can see that’s probably not the most exciting tale ever.
Better, in that case, to leave them with a happy ending. And if that means Heroine fi nds the Magic Cupcake Machine in the back of the shed, while Villain falls into a cauldron of spaghetti hoops, then so be it.
Night night!
Your can follow Sarah on Twitter @sarahereid7
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