How many questions can a 4-year-old ask? Is there any end to them? How many times will the same question (or statement, for that matter) be repeated in the space of five minutes? By how much time will this extend the length of time it takes to read one (1) bedtime story to said 4-year-old? I know, I know. These are questions upon which philosophers have pondered for all eternity – well, at least since there were 4-year-olds. 

I do love all the questions from E. I especially love discovering what she has discovered and thought to question. I admit, I do get a bit frustrated when I have seen her eyes get droopy and her breathing is slowing and I make the stupid thought that she is nearly asleep so therefore I might have an earlier rather than later night myself with some time to do Anna Things and then the next thing I know I’m hearing “Can I have a story?” Sigh. Then of course the wide selection by her bed (Superworm, Easter Egg Hunt, Beauty and the Beast, countless others) are all met with “No, not that one” so she is now fully awake and out of bed to look on the bookshelf for The (Right) Bedtime Story. 

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is her most recent favourite choice, which is one of our First Reader books. The First Reader publications just have slightly simplified language, so some of the beautiful language of stories for younger readers is lost. This particular one bugs me with what the mirror replies to the queen, but anyway. Some of the questions I have fielded have been: why doesn’t the queen like Snow White; why is Snow White tired; why are the dwarfs all so small; which one is your favourite dwarf; why does the prince kiss Snow White; why does the prince want to marry Snow White; why does Snow White want to marry the prince; why don’t they invite the queen to the wedding. All great questions. Whenever a story gets to a chance encounter followed by an immediate proposal, I always make a great drama out of what a silly thing that is to do. This one is going to have a discussion about consent arising from it soon, too. Kissing Snow White while she is unconscious?! Such a big no-no.

Each Peach Pear Plum has continued to be THE Bedtime Story, so much so that E made a chance reference to a page while we were out today. C looked at me and repeated it with the biggest question mark of a face, so I explained E had just quoted some of the book. And then I managed to recite the entire book, so that’s another one in the repertoire. C was delighted by it when she realised it was ALL nursery rhyme characters all in the same story.

C and I have continued with What Katy Did, but C now gets to snuggle in MY bed for French and Katy. C loves being in our bed and the snuggle factor far outweighs that of the sofa so, with these slightly chilly (as in, no longer summer hot) evenings, that’s our new normal. All of Katy’s goings on still make us both chortle, and C is expanding her vocabulary even more. Wonderful.