Two Versions of Going to Bed

She watches over the ways of her household,

And does not eat the bread of idleness.

Her children rise up

and call her blessed;

Her husband also, and he

praises her.

(Proverbs 31:27-28)

Here's a little thing I just read called Two Versions of Going to Bed from a book called Moments for Marvelous Mothers by Robert J. Strand. I thought it was funny, but true...We can all relate to this in some way!

Mom and Dad were watching TV when Mom said, "I'm tired and it's getting late. I think I'll go to bed."

SHE went to the kitchen to make sandwiches for the next day's lunches, rinsed out the popcorn bowls, took meat out of the freezer for dinner the following evening, checked the cereal box levels, filled the sugar container, put spoons and bowls on the table and set the timer on the coffee pot for brewing the next morning.

SHE then put some wet clothes in the dryer, put a load of clothes into the washer, ironed a shirt and sewed on a losse button. She picked up the newspapers strewn on the floor, picked up the game pieces left on the table and put the telephone book back into the drawer. She watered the plants, emptied a wastebasket and hung up a towel to dry. She yawned and stretched and headed for the bedroom.

SHE stopped by the desk and wrote a note to the teacher, counted out some cash for the field trip and pulled a textbook out from hiding under the chair. She signed a birthday card for a friend, addressed and stamped the envelope and wrote a quick list for the grocery store. She put both near her purse. Mom then washed her face, put on moisturizer, brushed and flossed her teeth and trimmed her nails.

Hubby called out, "I thought you were going to bed."

"I'm on my way," she said.

SHE put some water into the dog's dish and put the cat outside, then made sure the doors were locked. She looked in on each of the kids and turned out a bedside lamp, hung up a shirt, threw some dirty socks into the hamper and had a brief conversation with the one up still doing homework. In her own room, she set the alarm, laid out clothing for the next day, straightened up the shoe rack. She added three things to her list of thiungs to do for tomorrow.

HUBBY, about that time, turned off the TV and announced to no one in particular, "I'm going to bed," and he did!

(Karen Mallory)