Warning. Spoiler Alert for Life of Pi. Kind of. Not really. But kind of.
My sister Amy and another friend were over recently and we decided to watch Life of Pi. I’d already seen it and thought it was a stunning movie.
I had Noah that night and had put him down for bed ten minutes earlier, and as the movie started I realized both that I’d love for him to watch it, and he’d love to feel like a super big kid staying up late with us.
He trotted out and took turns snuggling up against me on the floor and then with Amy up on the sofa. Basically, when things got scary, he’d come down by me. When things got calm he’d go up top where it was more comfortable. At one point, everyone but me was up on the couch screaming and yelling at me because I may or may not have woofed a really stink one. Haha. Oops.
Anyway…
Toward the end, when Pi and Richard Parker were about to die, and Pi had the tiger’s head on his lap, Noah squeaked from the couch behind me, “I’m tired.”
I told him he could go to bed if he wanted. He insisted that he wanted to finish the movie. And after a few seconds, he climbed down by me, snuggled up next to me, and we watched the rest together.
By the end he was asleep. In my arms. And I was loving it. I don’t think he’s fallen asleep in my arms for a good three years. Maybe more.
Having your kid fall asleep in your arms really is one of the best parts of being a parent. I don’t know why. I think it’s because it takes true trust to fall asleep with someone else holding you. Don’t believe me? Try spooning some stranger, any stranger, beautiful, not beautiful, cool, creepy, but a stranger nonetheless. And just see if you can fall asleep. Guaranteed it ain’t gonna happen no matter how tired you are.
And that’s all. It was just a good dad moment.
Oh, and this is funny. Amy told me that the reason he suddenly announced that he was tired was because she had caught him wiping away tears during the near death part and she had reached up and brushed his hair with a sympathetic look. Knowing that he was busted, he tried to play it off and announced his sleepiness.
So dang cute that kid is.
Dan Pearce, Single Dad Laughing
Precious <3
Up until a few years ago, my younger son loved having me recline next to him on his bed, and have a little chat before lights out. But as he grew, it started to get a bit crowded. I also fell asleep next to him several times, pushing the poor kid nearly to the edge of his bed! He was either too sleepy, or too polite to wake me up! We still someties cuddle up on the sofa before it's time to go to bed. :) Life of Pi is on my list of movies to see.
It was only two nights ago I posted on fb how much I love that my daughter wants to cuddle me to go to sleep every night. Yeah sometimes it's frustrating that its every night, but mostly I just live that half hour of connecting with her and relaxing. Most nights she is asleep within ten minutes but I lay snuggles with her for a good half hour or more - for her benefit of course lol
Cherish those moments.... I miss them so much. With the boys 13 and 10 now they are long over. The closest I get is sharing the tent floor with a sleeping bag close to mine or on the couch except they never fall asleep first, I do. My son woke me up once and asked if I wanted him to carry me to bed LOL I just gave him a hug.
Aww! That's the only thought left in my head right now. That does sound like the making of a fantastic parenting moment!
I don't have any other response other than AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!! That's a *wonderful* story, Dan! Had my daughter fall asleep with her head in my lap when she was 11. At one point, she turned away from the TV and wrapped her arms around my waist. I ended up falling asleep on the couch that night because I was so enamored of her doing what she did and not wanting to disturb her. :) Absolutely LOVE moments like that... my grand-daughter is allowing me to experience those special moments all over again, too. :)
Funny - as I read this, my 2 1/2 year old is asleep on me. So many times I've thought about how wonderful it is to have your children fall asleep in your arms :)
Noah sounds awesome.
Yes they are!
It is the best, holding your kids when they fall asleep. For me, I think it's because it also reminds me of when I was little, being held by my parents and feeling so incredibly safe and secure. It's also why kids like to sleep in their parents bed. It's the warmest, most secure and most safe place in the entire world.
I'm pretty sure this is my favorite of all of your posts and I've been following you for months.
Those are the moments that definitely make you realize how truly amazing it is to be a parent. Kids are just awesome!
Touching moment.
My daughter is 12 and just growing up. She is and always has been a very snuggly girl. She is always cuddled up with me, leaning on me, lying on top of me, wherever we are, whatever we are doing she is snuggled up with me. I'm not gonna lie, at times, it gets quite annoying, I am the kind of person that has a bubble. I don't enjoy it when people come inside my bubble. However, with her, I am very aware that she is almost at the point where she wont want to cuddle with me, lay on me, lean on me. We are almost at the point where she won't want to be with me anymore. I take full advantage of it every time that she wants to be close, no matter how much I want my bubble back, if she wants in it, that is where she will be.
This made me "tired'. ;)
Thanks..
So precious! Thank you for sharing!
When we are young parents, we tend to take those kind of things for granted, rushing the child to sleep so we can have our quiet time. Now, with my granddaughters, I take every opportunity to let them fall off to sleep in my arms so I can listen to their baby snores and watch the smiles flutter onto their lips.
Loved the book and loved the movie. Loved reading about your moment. :-)
Sweet
I miss the days when my daughter would lay her head on my chest and fall asleep. I can't remember the last time she did!
Greatest moment when your kid falls asleep in your arms.
Snuggly kids are the best! Mine don't snuggle often, but those few moments are so precious. Noah is such a cutie!
<3 kids are the best :) I snuggle my daughter every single morning while she watches cartoons, regardless of what chores or errands need to get done.. They are only little once right?