"Love You Forever" Written by Robert Munsch & Illustrated by Sheila McGraw. Many of you with children may still read or at least remember this book. It is a "sweet" children's book. On the back cover it says "A young woman holds her newborn son and looks at him lovingly. Softly she sings to him:
"I'll love you forever,
I'll like you for always,
As long as I'm living
my baby you'll be."
Sounds sweet enough. At both of my children's preschool Mother's Day celebrations (many many years ago) this book was read to the parents. The lady that read it had an oversized book for all to see. It really was about 3 feet X 5 feet. As she read it she would get teary eyed and by the time she was done the entire group of mother's were doing everything from wiping tears from their eyes to outright sobbing. That is, the entire group except one. Yes, you guessed it, Me. I tried to get a melancholy serene wistful look on my face but instead it probably just looked puzzled.
Don't get me wrong. I ADORE my kids. Although I'm not a "touchy-feely" person with most people, I am with my kids. I'm not stand-offish with them at all. They get all the hugs and kisses they need, but this book just creeps me out. Lots of other moms kept insisting to me (years ago) that it was a WONDERFUL book so I actually went out and bought the book because I was sure I had missed something special and had to re-read it. Sorry, it's just too creepy for me.
It starts with that sweet woman singing that lovely little song (written above) to her newborn. Okay so far.
The kid gets a little older and gets into typical kid mischief. The woman gets exasperated during the day (as we all do) and at night she still creeps into his room, picks him up and and sings that song. Still okay so far.
Then the kids gets older and older and the ritual continues.
Then he's a teenager. There is a picture of her crawling into his room and then it says she picks him up, rocks back and forth and sings him her song. Here's where I'm starting to get that creepy feeling.
Her son grows up and moves across town, (none too soon, I'm thinking). Then the book says, "But sometimes on dark nights the mother got into her car and drove across town.If all the lights were out, she opened his bedroom window, crawled across the floor, and looked up over the side of his bed. If that great big man was really asleep she picked him up and rocked him back and forth, back and forth. And while she rocked him she sang (insert song from above)"
I'm sorry but that is creepy! There's this picture of a little old lady holding a huge man and rocking him while he's asleep! This guy has GOT to have issues by now. I've seen enough episodes of CSI and Law & Order to know that she is just asking for trouble. And why weren't his windows locked? And what about the neighbors? What if they saw her? She could have been shot!! And I guess the son would have slept thru all that too!
The book ends with with the mom calling the son and telling him to rush over because she's old and sick. When he gets there she tries to sing the song but is too old and sick to finish. So he picks her up and sings it too her. (yeah, that just makes me feel all sweet and mushy inside...)
When the son (man) gets home, he creeps into his newborn daughter's room, picks her up and sings her the song........
......and the cycle continues.
This is a CLASSIC book. Moms love it. Most of you may love it. I just don't get it!
Ok, this is what made me think of this book. (Come on, you had to know this was going somewhere). A while ago Guacamole asked me if he could get a tattoo. (he was 16 at the time and he would need a parent's signature). OK, I'm easy but not THAT easy. I told him No. He accepted the answer gracefully, as he already knew I would say NO. We started kidding around about it. He said "Maybe I'll get a friend to do it". I responded "You'll never drive again". (note: at this time we were just kidding around with each other....he's actually very respectful towards me, I'm lucky). ANYWAY, he responds "You won't know if I get it somewhere that you can't see". I respond, "OK, every night from now on, while you're asleep, I'm going to sneak in your room and check your body to make sure you don't have any tattoos". His response "Well, um, er, that's ok if you really want to mom, but ....um....well.....I think that's a little creepy".
SEE! Can't you see? It's just like the book! (ok, there really is absolutely no connection to the tattoo story and the book, but there is in my head and I'm writing this so....there you go.)
Why am I the Only one that thinks that book is weird? (why am I the only one that lets tattoos remind me of the book?) Why am I even writing about the book? Why is grass green? Why is the sun so big...opps...off track....I'm back. We would all agree that it would be weird to go and check your 16/17 year old son for tattoos while he's asleep. Is it normal to drive across town once he's an adult, climb thru his window, pick him up and rock him and sing?
It is weird, isn't it? (or is it just me?)
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4 comments:
Why do birds sing so gay? And lovers await the break of day? Why do fools fall in love?
Oh, sorry, thought we were still on the question series. Um, the book creeps me out too. But I think it is because our mom was a little creepy and we picture her doing it, (usually with a butcher knife or something).
But I do get choked up when he sings it for his mom, and then has his own little baby. And he did turn into a great husband, because right before he leaves to go to his moms, he is cooking dinner, and since he is married with this new baby daughter, clearly he was letting his wife rest while he made dinner. So I'm saying his mom must have done a pretty gone job with him, creepy factor and all.
But in answer to your last question. Yes, you are weird.
I have often wondered during the part where she drives across town and climbs in her adult son's window-where is his wife? and could he even get a wife if his Mommy was still rocking him asleep at night?-it could definately spoil the mood when attempting to have their own child-but I guess that's another story that certainly wouldn't be appropriate for the preschool set!
I kiss my boys on the cheek late at night when they are asleep. Mr P sometimes will give my oldest a wet willy- we'll wake him up and say, "Wake up! It's time to go to sleep!" He smiles and will say I love you too, Mom and Dad. He's probably going to think of this book as creepy too due to his weird parents!
ROFLOL! I love that book, but I am a bit obsessive complusive. But I have always wondered how the mom snuck into the son's house without waking anyone. Now that I think about it, you're right...it is kind of creepy.
But don't all of us want to be loved-unconditionally and forever. I guess that is the point...not stalker kind of love.
Oh and loved your previous post about singing to your son. My boys (17 & 15) will have to read it- they thought the songs I sang to annoy and wake them up were bad. Blessings, Roxie
I guess he isn't going to get a tattoo before age 18, right?
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