To my 4-year-old granddaughter, the most exciting part of my visit is that I get to sleep with her in her queen-sized bed.
At 9:30 p.m., Sophie’s constant energy is barely contained, even with the lights out and flannel sheets up to our chins. The bed is crowded with just the two of us, since half a dozen “my little ponies” have joined us on the counterpane, jumping in high spirits at my presence.
The chatter between Sophie and her tiny plastic friends finally turns to whispers, and then soft little snores. I start to fade out myself until I’m poked on one hip by a pony fairy wing, and I feel a plastic tail wiggle in my ear. Quietly, I place all the fantastical toys in the bin on the floor, and sink back into comfortable oblivion.
Until my eyes pop open. Two little-girl feet are propped on my face. I raise my neck a few inches and notice the sleeping child’s head down at the foot of the bed.
Not wanting to wake her (I really do believe in letting sleeping ponies, and little girls, lie) I slowly twist away and gently move the child’s knees off my chest.
An hour later (or is it only minutes?) an arm whaps me on the neck, and then a precious child, now right side up, cuddles into my stomach, finding my body a useful pillow.
I stare at the wispy white princess canopy over my head and demand my brain to stop laughing and GO BACK TO SLEEP.
Which I do, until an errant dolly finds my lower back, and brilliant little Sophie begins talking in her sleep.
Geometric solutions? 
Poetry?
An arcane language?
Oh. She’s mumbling about “glimmer winged” pony Rainbow Dash chasing Fluttershy in the magical night air.
5 a.m. and I just lay on the soft bed with my sweet grandchild, pretending that winged ponies are flying in and out of the canopy, dusting us with glitters of grandmotherly love.
wonderful!!! i felt the fairy dust!!!
By: hhooverpd@aol.com on October 19, 2012
at 1:28 pm
:+) you know you’re sprinkled with it often, my friend. xo
By: roughwighting on October 19, 2012
at 1:36 pm
If this is what grandma-hood is like, I can’t wait. The kid is still a little young – 26 today. Good grief!
By: Joan Leacott on October 19, 2012
at 1:50 pm
It is, and you will love it.
By: roughwighting on October 19, 2012
at 2:19 pm
I have had similar experiences with my 3 year old granddaughter so this makes me smile. Oh, to sleep like they do!
By: winsomebella on October 19, 2012
at 2:08 pm
Oh, to see and speak to fantastical creatures like they do…!
By: roughwighting on October 19, 2012
at 2:20 pm
loved it – enjoyed every minute you two and the ponies had – marcia
By: Anonymous on October 19, 2012
at 4:40 pm
Gorgeous, just gorgeous, children have a unique ability to bring belief in magic back in the twinkling of an eye…or the tickling of a plastic tail. I loved my little ponies as a child and this brought back delicious fond memories of cottontail and bow tie – thank you:-)
By: harulawordsthatserve on October 19, 2012
at 6:56 pm
Really, why can’t we ‘grown ups’ play with my (her) little ponies? I guess that’s what granddaughters are for!
By: roughwighting on October 21, 2012
at 10:03 pm
What a wonderful, memorable, sweet and precious sleepover you had! I love the way you told the story…
By: Barbara Rodgers on October 19, 2012
at 8:52 pm
Thank you. I can’t wait for the next sleepover!!
By: roughwighting on October 21, 2012
at 10:03 pm
Pam – what a magical post! What a wonderful thing to look forward to! I’m in no rush, of course – my son is 23 and in his first year of law school – but I might have to start stocking up for the future…..
By: Susan Brody on October 19, 2012
at 11:47 pm
Yes, stock up on those glimmering little ponies – they will never go out of style! :+)
By: roughwighting on October 21, 2012
at 10:04 pm
This is the sweetest story ever, Pam. I want a granddaughter to lie abed with. Even if it means a sleepless night…
By: Kathy on October 20, 2012
at 7:17 pm
P.S. I never fail to enjoy your posts. Love the way you write!
By: Kathy on October 20, 2012
at 7:17 pm
Thank you thank you – I have a feeling you’ll have one of these magical little people in your life at some point in your (not too distant) future. And you’re right – you won’t care a wink if you get a wink at night….
By: roughwighting on October 21, 2012
at 10:05 pm
So very sweet. I missed out on all those girly things. I can only hope for a grandaughter someday. Like Sophie, I too dream of glimmer-winged ponies!
By: soonie2 on October 20, 2012
at 7:47 pm
Interesting thing, my guy did not ‘get’ this post (would yours?). Little glimmer-winged ponies have never been in his dreams – can you imagine?
By: roughwighting on October 21, 2012
at 10:07 pm
How lucky of you to have the opportunity to sleep in a ‘princess bed’ with the resident princess and all her ponies! lol
By: mywithershins on October 21, 2012
at 4:38 am
And how I loved being a princess ‘attendant’ for the night.
By: roughwighting on October 21, 2012
at 10:08 pm
I envy her her fleeting, frosty dreams.
By: aubrey on October 22, 2012
at 10:02 pm
Beautifully said – me too!
By: roughwighting on November 18, 2012
at 1:22 am
Very sweet and magical. I can’t wait to have grandchildren. Someday.
By: Grace Grits and Gardening on May 8, 2013
at 1:36 pm
Tis sweet and soft, and a brings a whole new level of love.
By: roughwighting on May 8, 2013
at 9:40 pm