Knock, Knock

Many years ago, when my oldest daughter was young, a tradition somehow began.  Our master bathroom shares the wall in her bedroom that her bed is next to.  She was always a bit of a night owl, and sometimes when I was getting ready for bed (since I am not a night owl), we would both be making noise on opposite sides of the wall.  

I don't remember the specifics, but we started knocking on the wall.  One of us would start - knock, knock, knock - which meant I love you. Then the other would knock back with four knocks, which meant I love you too.  Then we would each knock twice in succession, which meant Good night.  Every time I had this exchange with my daughter, my heart was happy.  I would be brushing my teeth, smiling and loving my girl.

When my youngest girl was older and her older sister was away at college, my husband and I started the same tradition with her.  And just like I felt with her older sister, those bedtime knocks (because she is also a night owl and I'm still decidedly not!) brought me such joy.  

For a couple of months this summer, my oldest daughter is home before she starts her teaching job.  The girls have a loft in their bedroom, so both beds share our bathroom wall.  The other night I was getting ready for bed and wasn't sure if the girls were still awake.  I knocked on the wall three times, wondering if one of them was still up and would answer.  Almost immediately I heard three knocks from the top bunk and three knocks from the bottom and my heart was seriously so happy.  I responded with my good night knocks and then zoomed into their room to give them hugs.  

It's the little things in life, and both my girls knocking on the wall to tell me they love me is actually a really big thing. :)