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CONTEST ENDED – Thank you for submitting your stories!

Write a story about a parent putting their child to bed.

Posted in Adults on Oct 26, 2022

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✍️ 32 stories

“Bedtime with Maylee” by Desirae Moten

Submitted to Contest #3

Lynn finishes cleaning the last plate from dinner and sets it on the dish rack. She looks to the microwave for the time and it displays 6:44. She dries her hands, taking in a moment before starting the process of putting her daughter to bed. She’s unsure if her daughter will approach bedtime today by throwing the toys, ignoring her directions, screaming, or listening in order to earn a reward. Lynn walks to their shared one bedroom. “Maylee. Maylee it’s 6:45. What does that mean?” Maylee doesn’t look up from the toy animals. She’s playi...

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“Once Upon a Bedtime” by Chandler Branson

Submitted to Contest #3

On a silent street within a silent neighborhood lies a house that is also supposed to be silent. However, inside this very house at the top of the stairs can be heard many tiny giggles long past bedtime. “I can hear you up there!” The mother yelled out to her daughter. “It’s time for you to go to bed.” “But I wanna see papa!” The little girl yells back to her mama. Her tiny hands holding onto the rails as she peeks through them. “Papa had a long day let him rest okay?” The little girl looks down at the carpet by her feet.“Okay” She slowly le...

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“"A Good Night"” by Vanessa R

Submitted to Contest #3

 “Mommy, will you read me a bedtime story?”, are words I’ll never hear my daughter say. I reach into the kitchen cabinet and pull out her sippy cup. As I pour her warmed milk into the only cup she’ll drink from, I imagine what I will do when it met its last day. Scrolling through a plethora of websites, only to find OUT OF STOCK displayed across the screen. I know the inevitable will eventually happen and I'll no longer have it, and I don’t have a replacement. I imagine it crushing under the weight of my hands, disintegrating into yello...

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“The Monster Spray” by Sheila Hudson

Submitted to Contest #3

THE MONSTER SPRAY By: Sheila S. Hudson It was Jonathan’s first night in the new house. Scrawny tree fingers scraped his window.  Moonlight peeked its shiny face between the window shade and the windowsill. Jonathan squeezed his eyes shut.  The moonlight glinted so he slid the pillow over his head. He had drifted off when the yowling began, and the tree fingers scratched against the glass.  “Mama. Mama.” “I’m here,” Jonathan’s mother called. She came into the room and turned on the lamp.  J...

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“The Ritual” by Jennifer Todd

Submitted to Contest #3

“Sweetheart, please go upstairs and put on your pajamas. It’s bedtime,” I yell from the kitchen as I scramble to finish the nightly chores. With my ears perked up waiting for the sound of his feet defiantly stomping up the stairs, I unintentionally do my best Yorkie impression, cocking my head to the side, registering the silence. “Now!” I yell with a little more oomph. Still nothing. I throw the dish towel down on the counter and sigh, somehow surprised that what has become our nightly routine is now playing out yet...

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“My Daughter, Princess Wonder Woman” by Anna Blass

Submitted to Contest #3

    For all those who risk their lives every year, every month, every day, every hour, every minute, every second. We will value your memory, honor your sacrifice, and help fight for your cause: freedom.       I yell loudly, hoping that a louder volume will catch Olga’s attention.     “Olga, time for bed!” No response.    I walk over to her playroom and open the door slowly. Pink clouds and unicorns float in a hazy room that see...

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“A Father's Vow” by Kyle Chambers

Submitted to Contest #3

“There you are, nice and dry,” I said, as I finished drying my son off after his bath.  Sammy was only 5 months old, and someone decided that I, with only 5 months of parenting experience, was perfectly qualified to take care of this little guy.  As I had learned over the years, most jobs won’t hire you with less than a certain amount of experience, but taking care of and raising a human being? Nope, totally fine. I was about to grab Sammy’s pajamas, when I remembered to put his skin moisturizer on.  My wife wouldn’t be too ha...

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“An End to a Day” by Sarah Hawkins

Submitted to Contest #3

"Milo Lorenzo Jacobs you come here now!" Emily Jacobs chased her four-year-old son around the couch in the living room, pausing only to take off her work heals and improve her speed. As she caught up with Milo she swung him up into her arms. She brought him back down on the couch as he giggled and laughed, her fingers dancing across his small stomach."Mommy stop! Tickles no fair," Milo cried pushing at her hands and forcing a pout onto his face. The pout didn't stay for long as he grinned wildly and leaped from the couch, dashing down the ha...

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“Dylan” by Kristin Granek

Submitted to Contest #3

It's currently 9:34 PM.I try to put my children in bed between 8:00 and 8:30 PM. However one of my children seems to think that bedtime means it's time to stay up...forever! My oldest child, Dylan, is a tiny living nightmare when it comes to getting children to sleep. Dylan is six, and I would understand a six year old not wanting to take naps, and yes even not wanting to go to bed. But this little song and dance lasts roughly an hour to an hour and a half every night!My younger child is my daughter Avery. She's three years old and she falls...

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“Melody of Sleep” by Shachira S

Submitted to Contest #3

"Ayushi! Where are you? I can't see you?" Daksha called out to her daughter who was currently hiding behind the washing machine. She knew her daughter's favorite hiding spot where she hid all the time. "I don’t know where Ayushi is?" she said out loud.  Usual silent house was filled with sounds of laughter and giggles. It was not a common occurrence. Being a working mother Daksha could not always spend her time with her daughter. Working as a manager of a team did not get easier even after 7 years of experience in the field. From today ...

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“Bedtime” by Alena Lorraine

Submitted to Contest #3

Let the battle of wills commence! She wandered among the hallways and rooms looking for her intended targets.  It was the time of the evening that they all dreaded. Dinner had long been eaten, the scant homework was completed, and the remaining noise was the chatter from various electronic devices throughout the house. She stopped at one door.“I am letting you know that it is time for bed.” She said. Her 9-year-old son looked up drearily from his device. Once the words finally reached his brain, his eyes and mouth op...

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“The Same Thing Every Night” by Robert Winkler

Submitted to Contest #3

Joan walks into the room and sees her 8yr-old daughter, Sally, laying in the bed. She looks around the room, spotting the numerous electronics present. Internally, she bemoans their existence. She wishes she could remove them from her daughter’s life so Sally could grow up the way she did: with a simple life.  Sally, for her part, looks eagerly at her mother. Her arms spread wide in anticipation of a hug, dropping her stuffed alligator onto the floor next to her bed. Her smile spreads across her face. Joan is a little surprised Sally is...

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“She's Tired ” by Kandace Keel

Submitted to Contest #3

It’s been a long day today. She’s been struggling with her studies because she hasn’t been getting enough rest as she should. Oh well. It’s time to put the little one to bed. “Ok baby, it’s time for bed!” she said. She picked him up from his highchair and headed to the bathroom to clean him up and to lay him down for the night. He’s a busy little person, but sometimes, it can be an adventurous time getting him into bed. She gets him cleaned up. She gives him a bath and boy it’s like a water park in the bathroom. There’s water EVERYWHERE. Her...

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“Paulie's Dad at Work” by Rhonda Krol

Submitted to Contest #3

Three-point-four-year-old Paulie and his dad are at the supper table finishing off their hamburgers.“When is mamma coming back home?” Paulie began, looking up at dad with those big brown eyes.“We’ve talked about that, honey.”“But the hospital is so awful. It smells yucky.” a persistent son went on, shoving his remaining fries around the plate.“I know, your mom said the same, but it won’t be long now,” his dad looked up with a tired grin.“Why did she have to stay? You said she’d be back soon.” the youngster’s whine creeping in.“That’s what I ...

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“Bed Time Story” by Mike Dettmers

Submitted to Contest #3

Every day is a new adventure, Madeline reminds herself. It's four o'clock, and both Madeline and Emily are sick. The fever has been going around, and everyone they know has it. Madeline needs to cancel her five-thirty dinner with the boss but she knows ducking out is the express route to former employee. So she has to find a sitter, and fast. Jenny, her regular sitter, is sick. And so is her backup, Angela. Desperate, she texts Angela and asks if she knows a friend. But her friends are sick too. Angela does, however, point Madeline...

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