Goodnight,
My Sons; Goodnight, Moon
by
Patricia M. Dawson
In the late 1980s, my husband and I adopted a medically-fragile
baby. He was born severely affected by drugs, yet he grew stronger
each and every day. We had the support of his foster parents, his
pediatrician, our family and friends.
Then, one night, he woke up screaming; his eyes wide with fear.
As we rushed to hold and comfort him, we heard the sounds of
sirens. In the daytime, they didn't seem to bother our son; at
night, the medical/fire/police sirens brought out such anguish
in him, such absolute horror. After discussing this with many
people, one friend took my son and me to Powell's. She handed
me Goodnight Moon (by Margaret Wise Brown) and told me
that it would provide comfort to my son, and to us.
Before we tucked our son into bed that night, I read Goodnight
Moon to him. Then, I went throughout his bedroom and acted
out Goodnight Moon with his toys and furniture. He appeared
to be calming down. A few hours later, an ambulance went by
our home, with full sirens breaking the silence of the dark.
Our son woke up screaming. I pulled up the rocking chair beside
his crib, wrapped him in his blanket, and quietly read Goodnight
Moon to him. After the second reading, he fell asleep,
clutching the book to his chest. Even though a few more sirens
cleared the night air, he didn't seem to be disturbed.
After a few weeks of reading Goodnight Moon to our son
before his bedtime, and a few times during the night, the sirens
did not seem to disturb him at all. Nevertheless, as part of
our bedtime ritual, I continued to read him Goodnight Moon every
night. That is, until the evening, my son began "reading" his
book back to me. That was my "most memorable reading experience" number
one.
A couple years later, as a single mom, I adopted my son's half-brother.
He, too, was born drug-affected and was medically-fragile. He
often awoke during the night with light seizures. Then, my second "most
memorable reading experience" occurred. Remembering how comforting Goodnight
Moon was to my older son, and to me, I went back to Powell's
to purchase our second copy. I read it throughout the day, and
just before bedtime, to my little son; with his older brother
listening and helping me read the book. Goodnight Moon melded
us together as a soothing, calming presence for each other. As
my younger son's seizures decreased, thankfully his fondness
of Goodnight Moon did not. Copy #2 became a part of our
evening bedtime custom.
Then, in 1999, I was diagnosed with Stage 3 cancer — a
very sad and frightening experience. Within a few weeks of sharing
that information with family and friends, I received my very
own copy of Goodnight Moon from my best friend. Before
my surgery I read my copy, during the nine months of chemotherapy
and radiation, I would read Goodnight Moon and then tuck
it under my pillow each night. Thus, continued my third "most
memorable reading experience."
Thanks to my family and friends, to Powell's, and to Goodnight
Moon, I understand what comfort means and how to spread
that feeling to others in need.
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