Persuasion According to Evelynn

         "If you would persuade, you must appeal to interest rather than intellect." ~ Benjamin Franklin

Evelynn has, for a long time, been comfortably and happily sleeping in her room which she calls the "Green Room." She loves her room and is very proud that it is hers (and not Caelan's, too). This room was once the guest room, and while we were attempting to move her into her own room and her own bed, we found that she preferred this room. This was the room Grandma & Grandpa and Mema & Papa stayed in when they came to visit, and I'm sure the king sized bed she sleeps in has something to do with her love for her room. She curls up in the middle of it every night and whispers, "This is my room, and it's my favorite color." So she chose her room and since it meant she went to bed in her own room and fell asleep without problems, the room was hers.

Last night she went to bed as usual. Content but definitely not ready to go to sleep. At about 10 o'clock, I heard her quietly saying, "Mom, I need you." I tried to ignore it thinking she would eventually go to sleep. She repeated herself becoming louder each time. Afraid that she was about to wake her sisters, I went in to see what she needed. Sitting on the edge of the bed, little feet kicking, she smiled, "I was calling for you. I need you." She's just too cute, I thought as I said, "What do you need?" Tilting her head to the side and using her sweetest, low voice asked, " Can you sleep with me?" I explained to her that she needed to sleep in her bed and I in mine. Dropping her eyes, she pressed her lips together, trying not to cry. She said, "Ok..." with every ounce of heartbreak she could manage to fit into that one word.

At this point, Keith came in to see what was going on and laid down next to her. She was somewhat satisfied that someone laid down with her. "I have an idea," she said, "Daddy can sleep with me." Another explanation conveying the "no" was almost too much for her. She rolled over so she wouldn't see us. Her lower lip now protruding, trying her hardest not to make a sound or cry. Her eyes were rimmed with unshed tears-- and being the person that I am, I had to smother my laughter. She was still for a few minutes before saying, "Daddy, can you sleep in my bed?" Keith didn't verbally agree, but we were both thinking that maybe he would just stay in there until she went to sleep. Realizing that her Daddy was settling in to her bed, she jumped up and put her arms around my neck, "Mom, I can sleep in your bed with you now. Daddy's sleeping in my bed."