C'mon, Mom, it's Christmas!

There is nothing I look forward to more at the end of my day than sitting in bed reading. I get cozy and warm, turn on my lamp and read until my eyelids are heavy. If it's a page-turner, I'll stay up for hours reading, wishing I didn't need sleep. Close to midnight, reason usually gets the better of me, and I turn out the light to doze off.

Now that it's the holidays, I don't have to worry too much about going to bed late. I know the kids will be up at 5:00 a.m. excited to play with their new toys, but not my 8-year-old, Patrick. For Christmas he received the entire "Captain Underpants" by Dav Pilkey. Patrick loves to read, but these books have made reading a passion. They are hilarious and goofy, just like Patrick.

On the way home from my parents' house Christmas Eve, he stayed up during the hour-long car ride to read in the back seat. Tonight, as I am writing and revising my own work, Patrick is in the room next to me. I can hear him flipping pages and giggling. I looked in his room at 9:45 and his head lamp was still on. He went to bed at midnight yesterday and he should be exhausted, but he is completely taken by these books. I call lights out, and I am the worst.

C'mon, Mom, it's Christmaaaaas. Pleeeeaaaase let me read more. Please!

The boy is pleading with me to stay up to read, not to watch cartoons or eat junk. To read. Call me soft, but it's been a half an hour and he's still giggling away. I love the sound, but it warms my heart to know it's coming from the love of reading. Way to go, kiddo!