Goodnight Moon

In the Nook…

I wasn’t planning on making another post today but after going to CandaceC’s blog I felt like I had something I wanted to share with you all.  Her post was about her child picking up the book Goodnight Moon off the floor and “reading” it to her and how she wished she had her camcorder working so she could tape that. 

I love the book Goodnight Moon.  It’s such a special book and means so much to so many children.  This is a kind of sad story but I’m very proud that I knew this little girl.  Back in 1996 I worked in a day care and took care of the 4 and 5 year old children.  All the children were good little guys and I never had any trouble with any of them, none that I couldn’t handle on my own.  This one little girl, God love this child, her name is Brittany and she was 4 at the time.  She had short short sandy blonde hair and if she wasn’t wearing girls colors or a dress I’d think she was a boy.  She was always so worn out looking…tired, like she hadn’t slept well.  Her clothes were dingy and sometimes outright dirty.  I felt so bad for her and wanted to just take her home with me.  Her mother was single and had one or two older children.  Some of the other children made fun of her and asked her why she would wear the same clothes more than a day at a time and she’d just say, I love my dress or it’s pretty and I like to wear it.  A lot of times she’d get off the bus and she’d come into the day care crying and I’d have to fight tears or run into the restroom so she didn’t see my tears.  I was truly heartbroken. 

Brittany couldn’t talk well, she’d never been taught much and she used to tell me things she’d see at home that her mom and her boyfriend were doing…unspeakable things.  A couple of times I reported the incidents to my boss, the owner, and they’d call CPS but nothing would ever come of it.  One day during nap time Brittany found the Goodnight Moon book and brought it to me for me to read to the children.  I’ll never forget how much she loved that book, I’d have to read it day after day for her and sometimes I’d sneak and read it to her after reading a different book to the other children.  I would go home crying for that child and pray that she’d come through the door the next day, so I’d know she was okay, and here she’d come running to me with that beautiful smile and she’d call me Miss Nacy because she couldn’t say Nancy.  I started working with Brittany independently, with the owners permission, to try to teach her how to speak correctly and write her name and I would read books to her. 

Most of the time I knew the only joy that little girl had in her life was the time she came to that day care.  I knew she had food there and was in an appropriate atmosphere.  I sometimes wish I knew what ever happened to her.  I don’t remember her last name but I know she’d be around 15 years old.  I pray for Brittany quite often and hope there’s an adult in her life that will watch over her and give her a good example of what life is supposed to be like and not like she lived all those years ago.  I know the Good Lord will always watch over her but I also know she needs to know God in her life if she doesn’t and needs to have a Christian walk with God in order to have the best life possible…Thank you Candace for bringing back the memories of Brittany.  Please pray for all the Brittanys’ out there…whether boy or girl. So, with that I say…

Goodnight Moon….