bad dreams and ice cream (and real life magic)

When I was little, but a little older than you are today, I had trouble sleeping sometimes. I still have trouble falling asleep or bad dreams sometimes, but I think that happens to everybody once in a while.

Here’s a little photo that your mom took of us when you rolled onto me to cuddle and sleep (my favorite!), very early in the morning.

But back then, my brother (your Wujek Szymek) and my dad (your Dziadzio) all slept in the same small room for a while on Noble St.

This is where we (me, your Cocia Anita, Wujek Szymek, Babcia and Dziadzio lived on Noble St., a long, long time ago before you were born.

One of these nights, when I couldn’t sleep, your Dziadzio saw that I was awake and he told me to come with him to the kitchen. I was happy because I thought he was going to help me sleep!

Maybe he would tell me a story that would get me tired. Or maybe he knew a special trick! Maybe something magic…

But instead, he made two bowls of ice cream. He gave me one and sat down with me at the table.

But this wasn’t going to help me sleep, I thought! This wasn’t going to help me sleep! I was getting frustrated.

I ate some and said I didn’t want anymore.

Though, I fell asleep and slept the whole night after that. I’m still not sure why! Maybe there was some magic, after all.

I’m writing this because I always dreamed that, maybe one day when you’re having bad dreams or can’t fall asleep, we can eat ice cream together in the middle of the night. Just like I did with Dziadzio. Maybe it won’t magically fix the problem… but it’s important to try, and even more important to try together!

Together, we can figure out anything. That’s the real magic.

And of course I know how much you love ice cream, especially popsicle sticks. What’s your favorite kind now?

Here’s a video of you eating two popsicle sticks at once! And showing off some of your words (you were still learning, but you knew so many for someone who was 16 months old, which isn’t even one and one-half years!)

I thought of this story tonight because I was eating some ice cream and GG (one of your cats, who was so scared of you but always made sure you were ok!) jumped down and insisted that she had some, too.

A photo of GG tonight. Trust me, she looked happier when she got some ice cream.

Ice cream isn’t good for cats (or people, but once in a while is okay!), but I gave her a little bit. She deserves it for trying to take care of you, my big and special soul. We ate in silence, enjoying each others’ company. It made me want to tell you the story, so I wrote it down to make sure I didn’t forget.

If you’re ever having a bad dream, can’t sleep, or something is worrying you at night (it happens from time to time), I want you to know that you can always wake me up and I will try to help you. If I’m not there, you can call me any time and I will do my best. Remember, together we can figure out anything.

Sometimes all it takes is a big hug to help us feel better. There’s real magic in that.

Maya, I love you very much and always will.

I always wish you a

🌙 good night ✨ and
🍦 SWEET 🍬 dreams! 😴

I hope you dream of me like I dream of you (my favorite dreams).

daddy