Lisa's Lines
“Just one more cast, Mom! Pleeeeeease!”
It’s bedtime, but the bass are biting.
My 6-year-old, who is learning how to cast, is glued to the water’s edge. She reels in her line and casts again. And again. And again. Watching her is both dangerous and hilarious. Her distance is good, but her direction is not.
Her little sister is off trudging through the weeds along the shoreline, scooping up clam shells and shiny rocks.
It’s the perfect spring evening.
But, it’s a school night.
The battle between bedtime and bass fishing is real.
Prying a fishing pole out of my daughter’s hands just seems wrong. Yet, some nights, it comes to that. It is way more difficult than shutting off the television or computer when bedtime is declared.
I love that she loves to fish. And most nights, I too, want to remain at the shore. But, I’m the parent. I’m the adult. (Don’t you just hate that at times?)
It’s a school night and bedtime is important.
Stripped of her fishing pole, she frowns and begins trudging up to the house.
Summer can’t come soon enough--especially if the fish keep biting.
Wrangling my rain-boots-wearing 4-year-old is the final step. Warnings have been given, but they fail to sink in. The excitement of lake exploration is intoxicating for her. She would be there for hours... and I would love for her to be. But, bedtime looms and my preschooler needs her sleep.
The chase begins. Because she’s wearing rain boots, she flees from shore--laughing all the way. Waves pour over the tops of her boots and she screams with glee. Being chased by mommy and getting wet are pretty much the best things in my little girl’s world.
Luckily she’s short and can’t wade out too far in her boots. She freezes in reaction to the cold water on her feet, which is my opportunity to grab her.
Her strawberry blonde pigtails are a little damp, but her smile is wide when I set her upon a stump and proceed to dump the water out of her boots.
“Mommy, I love you!” she spouts, throwing her arms around me. “Can we stay outside just a little longer?”
Right on cue, big sister yells from the porch: “MOM! Why can Ellen stay out, but I can’t?! It’s not fair!”
Ugh. Springtime bedtime is difficult.
“We’re coming!” I holler back.
The sun is just beginning its descent as I finally get my little girl in the house. I shoo her upstairs to wash up, change into her pajamas, and brush her teeth. As I stop at the sink to wash my own hands, I look out to see a bucket and sweatshirt still on the shore. I head back outside to round them up.
The peace and quiet of the moment catches me and I stop to let it soak in. A couple geese float up next to shore. It’s beautiful.
“MOM! What are you doing?” an inquisitive little voice calls from a window. “It’s bedtime!”
Yes... Yes.. Yes... It’s bedtime.
It’s time for nighttime snuggles, prayers, and books.
Before I shut her bedroom light off, my first grader sighs. “Mommy, I really like fishing. Can we stay up late and fish this summer or will I still have a bedtime?” she asks.
It’s a loaded question, but a good one.
“There will still be a bedtime, but it will be flexible--based on how the fish are biting,” I explain.
She nods, smiles, and wiggles down under her covers.
Summer needs to come soon.
This mommy is ready to “forget” about bedtime.
