Here's a little tale about a father getting his kid to go to sleep. About telling the truth. You've likely heard it before.
There once was a busy working dad who came home every night to the cheers of his five year-old daughter only to find it difficult for him and his wife to have any private time together. Though he wouldn't admit it, the daughter reminded him of himself as a kid. She was curious, silly and inventive. But, he set his mind on making her go to bed at a certain time so he could keep the romance with his partner alive.
So, he conjured a story about a jaguar in the house. [It was actually an obscure comic book reference that came to mind and a little role play activity he liked to share with his mate.] He told his daughter that this wild beast had escaped from the zoo and was stalking around the neighborhood. And, now it was sneaking in their own house. She would have to be careful and listen to her parents. Dad said he was looking out for her safety. And, apparently her room was safe from any jaguar attacks.
Initially, the daughter asked a flurry of questions which the father deflected til his little girl surrendered. A few nights later, giving the matter some thought, she insisted the parents join her in the bedroom(since it was made clear that this particular bedroom was so safe from jaguars).
The father quickly grew tired of this "game" and the effort his silly little story took to be effective while the daughter grew ever more worried and concerned for her family's safety. Every day the little girl went to school, no one believed a word she said. And, when she went out to the car with mommy, she would become paranoid about the jaguar lurking nearby. This didn't please mommy who vowed to teach her partner a lesson.
Then came the night when daughter and daddy parted with ease, to the man's delight. He finally had the right mood and inner peace he desired and went about sharing a passionate night with his mate in private. Self-satisfaction and relief fueled his passions, to the woman's delight(who forgot about her wishes for revenge at the time).
Little did they know their daughter was restless in her room and plotting a course all her own.
When day broke and the man slipped out of bed to get a glass of water, he waltzed to the kitchen only to have his feet impaled several times by something sharp on the floor. He attempted to stifle his feminine cries and explosive expletives before looking down at the floor. There he found an assortment of silverware: forks, knives, a butcher's meat tenderizer, a cheese grater, etc. With tears in his eyes, the father walked on his heels in search of gauze to bind his wounded feet. [Luckily, he did not bleed on the floor or carpet.]
At the breakfast table that morning, everyone had a different expression on their face. Dad was grumpy. Mom had a Cheshire Cat grin. And, the little girl looked anxiously at both parents over her cereal with a mix of hope and concern.
"Did we get the jaguar?" the daughter asked.
"Yes, sweetie," chuckled mom under her breath before throwing a sly glance at her mate. "We got the jaguar."
That next night, mom slept alone. She was left restless on the family room couch with crap flashing in her face on TV. Her daughter made at least three stops to ask her various youthful questions(thus denying her hopes of getting any rest). Dad, on the other hand, rested peacefully in the couple's king-size bed. A wooden chair with a heavy pot rested under the bedroom door's knob. Despite the bandages on his feet which made work difficult that day(not to mention the "buzz" of gossip among co-workers), he felt satisfied to have a night of peace to himself and smiled as he ate his pizza in bed.
[Didn't see that coming. Did ya?:P]
--written by brainstormer 1-23-09 in under a half hour:)
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