Nighttime is the Right Time for Stories and a Drink

A parent's work is never done. Even as the children retire for the evening, there are duties and responsibilities that require parents. These include making sure the children have brushed their teeth, or their dirty clothes from the day are in hampers or laundry baskets. Did they shower? Is the shampoo/conditioner/soap thoroughly rinsed out? Is their hair brushed so there are no tangles? As I just said: A parent's work is never done.

Part of my job at the end of the day is reading to The Boy. This has been my job ever since the child moved on from a crib to a bed. Before him, I read to The Oppressed. She would pick out the book for me to read, and I would read to her until she fell asleep. This nightly tradition has moved on from The Oppressed's bedroom to that of The Boy. Instead of reading books about girls playing and princesses dancing, we read about Dog Man and the Cat Kid Comic Club.

"Dog Man" by Dav Pilkey

"Cat Kid Comic Club" by Dav Pilkey

A Drink at the End of the Day

When my day has ended, I like to unwind with a glass or bottle

One of The Boy's earlier pours.

of something delicious. What I am drinking usually depends on what I am doing or reading at night. If I am having a beer while cooking or reading, The Boy tells me it is his duty to pour it for me. He has been improving on his pouring skills. The heads of the beer have gotten smaller and smaller. I like this, as I would much rather drink beer than foam.

Different Drinks on Different Days

My drink depends not only upon what I am reading, but also the time of year it is. My Thanksgiving always ends with a delicious mug of Thanksgiving Ale from the good people at Mayflower Brewing. This, of course, is enjoyed in a tankard so that I can truly enjoy the historical vibes that come with celebrating this great American holiday in November.

There are other ways I take my vices seriously. There's a nice mug of Smoking Bishop when reading "A Christmas Carol" during the Most Wonderful Time of the Year. A little scotch or bourbon when I am writing at night because I am so sophisticated.

My own Thanksgiving tradition.

Treasure Island. Yo-ho-ho!

The Boy and I are currently reading “Treasure Island”. This is presenting its own challenges that I’ll get into at a later time. To get into the spirit of Robert Louis Stevenson, I don’t drink beer, I drink rum. What better way to invoke the spirits of Long John Silver, John Trelawney, and Captain Smollett. Not Jim Hawkins, though. He is but a lad, and not ready to drink.

Pouring rum is different than pouring beer. I explained this to The Boy when he was eager to pour me a drink before getting into the latest chapter of the adventures on the Hispaniola. Pouring a beer entails draining the entire bottle into the glass. Not so with rum, unless you really want a bad stomachache and headache. I watched him pour for me. He did alright. He asked me about being a bartender. I told him it was something he could do, but he would have to wait, as he is still in elementary school. No problem. He has plenty of time to get his pouring skills down. Bartending also means having to listen to people talk and talk about their problems. Storytime isn't a problem, but it does involve listening. He just needs to remember that bartenders can't fall asleep while people are talking to him.

Practicing His Craft

Getting better

I'm not sure why The Boy loves pouring out, but I don't mind it. It's another way of having a minute or two with him. It lets me ask a quick question when he hands me the drink and find out about his day. What he's doing next, stuff like that. Plus, it's something that makes him happy. He likes doing something for me, and if it makes him happy to do something for, why say no?

Check out my review of Pancakes from Scratch, a vegan product offered by Scratch Grocery.