Here’s what we’ve done this week to help Bethel learn to be quiet.

Mostly I’ve just been aware of opportunities when quiet is desirable, and taken advantage of the moment. That’s how I’ve been praying.

So, when Bethel and I went into the girls’ room while Laurel was sleeping, I whispered “we must be very quiet so we don’t wake the baby” Then I asked her a question in a whisper so she would have to respond. We also did this when we walked into church a bit late last night.

I’ve also been aware of storybooks that I can whisper as I’m reading. Two we’ve read are Listen Buddy by Lyn Munsinger (thanks to my sister-in-law for pointing out this author), and The Monster at the End of this Book (a Sesame Street book that I love although I’m not a Seseame Street fan).

Yesterday I called Bethel over and told her I wanted to tell her a secret. Then I whispered in her ear something. Of course, David wanted to know what the secret was. I told him. Then I asked them to tell me a secret. Bethel just giggled. David said “I like rockets.”

I remembered that when David was a baby and we played at the piano, I used to sing “do not wake the baby” very softly (do, re, me, fa, so, do) in “mommy notes” [high notes] and then we’d sing something loud and raucous to a booming bass acompaniment (“daddy notes”). He loved the contrast. I want to try that with Bethel. I’m also going to so some soft-loud contrasts in music class tomorrow.

Eek! Music class is tomorrow, and I’m scared stiff! Guess I should get to work.

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