How can I fall asleep?

Six weeks into the year, there is calm and quiet at nap time,
the children understand and expect nap.

How do so many children get to sleep in one room?

I do my part,
reading a book,
shades down,
curtains drawn.
Then, soft music, and
whispering teacher voice.

I am fascinated by all their different rituals before sleeping -


Some are quick -

one,
pulls blanket up,
over head,
sleep.

another,
takes off shoes,
takes off socks,
puts socks on arms,
pushes blanket to side,
fixes everything just right,
sleep.

one,
whispers,
"I did a lot of running.
I am sleepy, Ms. Ingram,"
and turns over, on his stomach,
hugging pillow,
sleep.

still another,
arm to the sky,
finger pointing,
drawing images,
just for a few minutes,
letters?
faces?
draw, draw, draw,
sleep.

one,
eyes on me,
staring, staring, staring,
a simple plea,
"Ms. Ingram, will you pat my back?,"
and, as I do,
sleep.

one more,

plays with her lovey bear,

hugging close,

making it a pillow for her head,

moving it to her side,

finding the best spot,

leaning on the lovey,

sleep.

Some take more time, and
more interaction with me -

one,
rocks,
from side to side,
on left side,
no, on right side,
no, left side,
no, right side,
back and forth,
over and over,
wearing himself out,
then, finally,
sleep.

another,
tossing and turning,
moving about from head of cot to foot of cot,
move, move, move,
feet out of bed,
head out of bed,
move, move, move,
a quiet cry,
"Ms. Ingram, I'm not sleepy,"
and, almost simultaneously,
sleep.

one,
whispers, non-stop,
telling stories,
quietly,
to oneself,
chatter, chatter, chatter,
little bit louder,
then a reminder from Ms. Ingram to be quiet,
quiet,
one more moment of self-talk,
sleep.


still another,
tossing and turning,
moving about from head of cot to foot of cot,
move, move, move,
feet out of bed,
a reminder from Ms. Ingram to lay down,
finally,
he lies flat on the cot,
blanket on the floor next to him,
hands over ears,
shutting out all noise,
sleep.

yet another,
sings,
our class songs,
ram sam sam,
head, shoulders, knees, toes,
a b c d,
turns onto his side,
sleep.

last one to sleep,
tossing and turning,
moving about
from head of cot
to foot of cot,
move, move, move,
picks out her hair ribbon,
twists it, turns it,
move, move, move,
takes off shoe,
takes off the other one,
finds small toy,
plays with it,
drops the toy,
teacher comes over,
fixes blanket,
pats back,
teacher moves away,
move, move, move,
takes off the blanket,
stretches feet to the sky,
spreads them, pointing upward,
move, move, move,
feet down,
puts blanket back on,
finally,
sleep.

Every child with their own unique ritual for going to sleep.
Why does this surprise me?
No two of us are alike.