A Moment in Reverie: Ear to Bellybutton

Reading books and reading moments...in my well, 'family bed'.

Every night, my middle child falls asleep in my bed next to me or her Dad and every night, we then move her to her bed. Except for maybe one time (and I mean it, once!), she finds her way back into our bed. Every single night.

Sometimes she stumbles into our bed still half asleep.

Other nights she is awake and very, very sneaky.

A couple nights ago, I had literally moved her maybe three minutes prior when I saw her little head poke up on my side. Her eyes wide awake and without words, asking if she could come back to the big bed where it was warm and other people were. I imagine a bubble of safety comes to mind for her, just as it did for me when I was little. I opened the covers to let her in.

Quick side story: Once at a retreat in California many moons ago, a seasoned mama shared that she and her partner raised their kids in a ‘family bed’. I asked “what is a family bed?’. So matter of factly, she said they all sleep together. Every single night. I believe she had three or four children. I had zero children at the time and had so many questions. Like when do you have intimate time with your partner? How do you sleep with so many bodies in one bed? Isn’t it hot? I love this part, she said this is how it works for her family and she pointed out that she had four children, so they figured out the sex thing.

I remember to this day saying to myself, ‘Oh I won’t do that’.

Ha.

Hahaha.

Hahahaha.

Anyways.

So covers open, Nora climbs in to what we now have, a family bed. I asked if