Instead of a nightlight, I turn on the closet light for my children at bedtime. At first, when our eyes are used to the bright fluorescent bulbs in the rest of the house, this is a tough adjustment. Even with the closet door wide open, the light appears dim. But as our eyes adjust, that light which once appeared so dim now seems way too bright. So every night I go into their rooms and close the closet door. That light is still shining as brightly as it was before, but now it is contained behind a closed door. Light seeps out around the cracks and underneath the bottom, so it’s enough to comfort them if they wake up, but it’s not enough to offend the eyes if they awaken from a deep sleep. Continue reading “A Light in the Closet” →