Lily loved bedtime. It meant snuggling with her teddy bear, Barnaby, and listening to the gentle sounds of the night.
But tonight, something was different. Lily's room was a bit of a mess. A few scattered toys, a half-finished drawing, and a stack of books lay beside her bed. Lily knew her mom would not be happy.
Normally, Lily was a very tidy girl. She loved to put her toys away, neatly arrange her books, and make her bed every morning. But tonight, she had put off these important jobs. She felt tempted to push the books and toys under her bed, but she knew that was not a very nice thing to do.
She felt a pang of worry. She remembered that her mom always said, 'A little bit of preparation makes bedtime much more special.'
Lily sighed. She knew she needed to tidy up. But doing so now seemed like a big, daunting task. How could she ever get it all done?
With a little bit of bravery, Lily started to put things away. She carefully placed her teddy bear in the corner and tucked him under the quilt. She slowly picked up the drawing and gently tucked it into the drawer. She noticed the mess on the floor and decided to put the books in her bookcase.
She started with one toy, then another. One step at a time, she tackled the scattered books. It was slower than she wanted, but Lily worked with patience and focused on one task at a time. Before long, the toys were organized, and her books were placed neatly on the shelf.
Finally, Lily made her bed, tucking the blankets in snugly. Her room looked much better, so much cleaner.
As she finished, Lily felt a sense of accomplishment. She realized that it wasn't as hard as she had thought. It had been a lot of work, but the room was much more organized and calmer than before.
Lily snuggled under her covers, Barnaby nestled beside her. She thought about how much more enjoyable bedtime was when her room was ready. She felt very good about herself, proud of how responsible she had been. She smiled at the thought of a peaceful night.
And when her mom came in and saw the room, she was so pleased. She said, 'Lily, you are a very responsible and tidy little girl!'
Lily smiled happily. She knew that preparing for bedtime wasn't just about tidying her room. It was about showing patience, focusing on the task at hand, and being responsible in taking care of her things. And this is exactly what makes her bedtime more enjoyable.