When the boys were little I would often lie down with them at bedtime, tell them a story about Little Squirrel who lived in our tree outside, or sing a song.  To be sure, I would also sometimes yell at them to get into bed and stay there.

My son, Andy, always used to say something when he wanted me to tuck him in and stick around for awhile.  He would toddle up to me, index finger in his mouth, the soft edge of “ba-ba” stroking his cheek, and say “Mom, will you send me up?”  I found that so endearing and not just a little spiritual.  Not tuck me in, not help me get to sleep, but “send me up.”   Where was “up?”  Was it what he felt as he was going to sleep?  Did he feel his little self drift away from his body as he drifted off to sleep?  Did he feel the arms of a angel envelop him?  I will never know, but I bet he’s not alone in that feeling while going off to sleep.  Children say it best, everyone knows this…