Our kids' bedtime routine has long been my domain, as it were. My wife homeschools our three kids, so she doesn't get many breaks. When it's time for bed, I am in charge of getting the two older kids ready, including the tooth brushing, stories, prayers, and tucking them in. Sometimes, it involves keeping them in their rooms, or getting a snack or drink for my daughter, who seems to require less sleep than the rest of us.
We had gone through a period when they didn't want me to read to them, but then they suddenly showed renewed interest in having "story time" again. Recently, I decided to forgo reading a book to them - instead, I told them a story from my own childhood.
THEY ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT!
Now, when it's getting close to their bedtime, my seven-year-old daughter starts jumping around frenetically, while saying, "I want stories from your life! Stories from your life!"
Who knew that my life was so entertaining? I am considering writing a book about my life now, if for no other reason than the fact that my kids love these stories so much.
Last night, we talked about the fact that I used to listen to records all the time when I was their age.
Yes, records.
Vinyl records.
I feel ancient thinking about it now. At any rate, I explained to them about how the smaller records were 45's and the bigger ones were 33 1/3's because of the rotational speed per minute of each one. I am not old enough to have listened to 78rpm records. I put that last sentence in because I know that someone will mention the fact that I am young compared to them, and that they remember the days before television or shoes, or something. :)
If you're interested, I even wrote a post once on AR about my record collection from when I was 7 or 8 years old:
Transported by Song - A Look Back on My Collection of Records from 1977-1978
Truth be told, I still have at least 200-300 records here in the house, and a functional turntable, although it doesn't get a lot of use these days.
One night a couple of weeks ago, I taught my kids the "Fishheads" song from the late 1970's, which I used to hear while roller skating with my friends. Does that make me a bad father, or a fun dad? Either way, we had a good time. I can actually hear my son singing it RIGHT NOW downstairs!
I have shared a lot of funny and interesting stories with them lately, along with a few that are a little scary or gross (like the reasons for some of the scars that I now have).
I guess it keeps me on my toes each day, since I am forced to be creative about what we talk about and share at night. Today, they have both requested that we listen to some records, so I think that's on the agenda for later.
Now, it's time to start on that book.
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Jason.... It is truly amazing that talking about children makes a blog so magical. What a fabulous story you just shared with us! Thank you! Thank God for the blessings of children in our lives! You are a wonderful father and husband for what you do!
Jason - I always like when you post about you family because when I grew up we never had this. I think it's great, all the bonding you do with your children and I encourage it because they grow up so fast. When their young until they get older you will always have this love and caring bond. When they become adults and have their own children, they will try to be like you and your wife.
Jason~ For some reason all kids would rather hear real stories that pertain to their parents or family. They seem to remember those stories much better, especially all of the little intricate details that we provide!
Jason...you can talk all the trips in the world, but there are none better than those down Memory Lane!
I use to have an elderly lady that I helped out with various tasks, like her yard work. When we were done, she would have the a/c on in living room (a window unit of course) and have a Coke waiting for us. Every once in awhile she would go off on a story about days gone by! How much I loved, and miss those stories.
On top of blogging, I'm hoping to get back to keeping a journal. When I've gone back to it, it's like the event happened yesterday!
You sound like an awesome Dad!
Hi, Jason:
No mention on what the story you told was about?
To answer your question, you are not a bad father for exposing your children to Fish Heads. Maybe I am not the best measure: My four year old's favorite song right now is J.Giel's Band "Centerfold". Please don't call CPS on me!
I can not think of a better way to keep the generation gap closed between you and your kids than by sharing with them your music and stories growning up. On the flip side, that means that you will have to entertain their musical interests in return. Yikes!
And we also have a large collection of LP's in the house (do you remember that stands for Long-Playing??... sounds funny today, doesn't it), and a functional B&O record player. I told my daughter, one day, to put that over there on the turntable, and she asked "What's a turntable!?"
- heavy sigh - it was like a knife through my heart (okay, maybe I'm being a touch over-dramatic... but just a touch).
I love story time with my grandchildren. Thanks for sharing
Rich
Charlotte NC
Jason -- Every day of my life I realize that my children are the greatest thing ever. (next to yours, in your mind, Im sure...lol) Youre an awesome dad! And, you and I have a ton in common. I still have vinyl albums (roughly 200 of them or more) and a functional phonograph that records to a CD! (yeah, baby!) My wife reads to #1 son every night...and Im looking forward to the days that I can start reading the HANK THE COWDOG series to both my sons like I used to when my daughters were younger.
Thanks for the trip down memory lane!
Alan... I remember those! And I remember changing the needle on the record player too!
Crouch - The fact that you taught your kids the "Fishheads" song gives me a greater respect for you. That's freaking classic!
Did that song go something like "Fishheads, fishheads, roly-poly fishheads"? Where did it come from?
I still have my classical collection of music on my 78's. And a stereo from 1950 sitting in my family room, who can give up all of this. 45's are all over, and memories are the best.
Alan... I remember those! And I remember changing the needle on the record player too!
I'd forgotten about the needles, Melissa... they were almost like tiny little knitting needles, and we'd have a half dozen in a little manilla envelope!! LOL!! (for 25¢).
Fish-heads fish-heads, roly-poly fish-heads, eat them up, YUM!!!
SARDI - Glad to hear it! My son knows almost all of the verses now.
ANN - Yep, that's the one!
Barnes & Barnes was the duo who sang Fish Heads. Remeber the Video on MTV (Dating myself!)? It was like two people wearing garbage bags. "Fish heads don't play baseball... they don't make good friends..."
MICHAEL - How could I forget the video? I see that you are in Round Rock. I'm in Pflugerville - just FYI.
Jason, This post brought back precious memories and brought a smile to my face. My grandmother was a great storyteller. When my sister and I spent the night at her house we slept in the same room with my grandparents. We would lie awake in the darkness listening to exciting (to us) stories that had been handed down to our grandmother from her colorful grandmother about our family's early days in Texas.
That is so cute Jason. You should definitely write the stories down, the children will love it when they are older & can think about you & all you shared & taught them. KM
You`re a great daddy jason....
I learned once that children base who they are on who their parents are. Your kids think you are a legend, and I think that's awesome! My eldest daughter is a Nanny. I hear stories of her proudly sharing with her "kids" things she learned from me. Makes me smile on the inside. Who wouldn't want an awesome Dad like your kids have, who sings them the "Roly Poly Fish Heads" song, reads them bedtime stories and tucks them into bed. You are giving them amazing tools to use some day. Good for YOU!
ps Thanks to you my 9 year old now knows the Roly Poly Fish Head song.....
Jason, you are a great father. You are hands on and your children will always remember the stories that you tell them. Don't worry about bad or good stories, just talk to them.
I can still hear my grandmothers voice as she told me stories. To say that I treasure them (and the memory of her and her love) is an understatment.
Jason,
I got such a charge and an education from LISTENING to my kids at bedtime!!! :) Thanks, Fran
Funny stuff Jason. How old are you again? Just kidding.
I've memorized the words and can't get "Fishheads" off my mind. Oh well, going out to dinner now, guess what I'm having. Thanks Jason!
My kids use to love hearing about my life. This is a great way to becoming even closer. Enjoy these days children grow up fast.
Awe, this was very nice to read. My husband and I take turns reading to our daughter, I used to love hearing my Dad read "Green Eggs and Ham" over and over. It was the first book I read on my own. Too bad my daughter doesn't have the same taste but when it comes to "The Kiss That Missed", she pretty much reads it to me. I love making memories, this was a great blog, nice job!
Heidi :)
Very cool. That is something they will remember FOREVER! Congratulations on taking the time at least once a day to spend with just the kids. Many parents get far too busy to really get involved. I'm not placing it on the parents, but some just have to work double jobs or pull extra shifts. Plus, you are sharing stories about yourself so the kids know you even better. Although your routine is not my routine, I think it would be a lot of fun to share MY stories instead of always sharing stories in a book. They do tend to like my stories, especially when something funny happened to me. They seem to laugh harder when I get injured or embarrassed some how. :-)
You are such a good daddy and husband for taking care of bed/story/bath/brush teeth time. More dads need to do this. I'll buy your book when it's published by the way.
What was your very first record/album Jason? My first 45 was Carly Simon, my first LP was Donny Osmond. I think it was 1973.
Jason - You really took me down memory lane with this post. While my dad was not around a lot the time but the time we did get to spend with him was extra special when we would play those 45 records and yes even his collection of 78's of Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Glen Miller, and Tommy Dorsey just to name a few and listen to the stories of his childhood. Those memories I will cherish forever just as your children always will too.
To this day I still remember the stories my dad would tell me about his life growing up. Our parent's lives, before they were parents, provide wonderful insights into them as people, not as parents! Way to go Jason!
Jason, This is a terrifc way for your kids to learn history lessons and get to know you as a human being. I used to love these stories growing up, although I did not hear enough of them.
Albums, I can't believe I left them all behind and my top of the line turntable when we moved. My girlfriend had said to me you are not bringing your albums are you? After most everything was packed and I could not lift another finger~ Well I just dumped them ! Bad decison~
I think that means you are officially older than dirt! Except I remember palying 78's, so how old does that make me??
My daughter is just shy of 6 months old (do they keep growing up this fast??) and I already tell her stories and sing her songs that I remember from my childhood... I plan to continue, your blog is inspiring! ~A:)
We sold a lot of that stuff to an antique dealer...we simply didn't have room for it so they bought most of it and we donated the rest...we even had a victrola that we gave them too.....from the 50's.
Keep up the good work. My son was 15 months old when my Grandfather passed away and I hear him tell stories about my Grandfather and they are my memories that I shared with him his whole life and he now repeats them as if they were his own. I Love it as my Grandfather may live on forever!
I LOVE IT! My girls have a similar reaction to my stories...and they are much older. I guess we are doing something right. The most important thing of all is the connection and the communication...which builds character. You and Pam are the BEST! GBU!
My Father read to us every night or told us a fabulous tale from his childhood. I'm not sure all the stories were true or just tinged with truth but I still remember them all and will cherish those memoris forever.
Jason,
My hat off to you and your wife for homeschooling. What a great thing to do for them!
Keep up the good bedtime stories,
Ann
Records LOL....I don't think my kids even know what they are! My boys love stories about when I was little or even about when they were babies. Thanks for the smile you put on my face this morning!
Jason,
I think that's great that you share those stories with your kids. I do the same with mine and they just seem to dig them. They beam from ear to ear, many times they will poke fun....it's all good and all sharing and it makes mommy very human.
I am finding that even some of my younger stories of humiliation or jubilation to be of help in talking and guiding my pre-teen daughter.
Jason,
My grandchildren always like to hear our old stories, except when we tell them how poor we were, they start crying.
Kids love to hear about our lives, it is funny how they really DO pay attention.