Do you know how important a bedtime routine is?
It creates comfort and security.
It helps them think ahead to what's next.
It establishes good sleep patterns. (Crucial when poor sleepers run in the family!)
It's learning time when we sit together and read books.
It helps strengthen the mommy, daddy, baby/child bond.
And to this mommy, it's the time when my heart bursts with pride, joy, love, peace, and thanksgiving to God for blessing me with my kids.
I love bedtime. For many, many reasons.
I'll note here, Sydney puts herself to bed. At age 12, it's not cool to do all this "baby stuff" anymore. She gets time to herself to read and Kendall goes down to make sure she's set for the night. The routine that follows....that's for the boys. For now.
First, it's bath/shower time. The boys aren't always big fans of the whole getting clean part, but they cooperate (most of the time).
Sometimes Daddy helps with jammies.
Then we cuddle on the couch and read books. I'll admit sometimes I can only handle one book, but most nights we read 3-5. "One of a grouch's greatest joys.... One fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish.....George was a good little monkey but always very curious...... When bedtime comes I know just what to do" I think I have most of the books on our bookshelf memorized!
I introduced a chapter book this week and Eli really likes coming back to it every night to hear more of the story.
After a good teeth brushing and flossing, everyone gets hugs and kisses.
Isaac and I head to his room together and I usually hear "rock by me. you ding dong boo me?" It gets me every time. I wrap him up like a baby, sit him on my lap, and we rock and sing songs together. There's just something about my two-year-old boy singing Jesus Loves Me that brings tears to my eyes every time. (That's his favorite song and the first one we sing every time).
"You ding nudder dong?" And so we sing The B-I-B-L-E, The ABC's, The Books of the Bible, This Little Light of Mine, He's Got the Whole World, Jesus Loves the Little Children, and a variety of others.
More kisses and finally he's in bed after saying his prayers and then it's Eli's turn to get tucked in.
This kid has such a tender heart and wants to pray for anyone and everyone. After he's all tucked in (with WAY too many blankets, dolls, stuffed puppies, and usually a toy or two) he gets extra kisses and always, always asks for a drink of water. It has to be new water because the "old water tastes yucky."
There are nights when I rush through our routine because all I can think about is that moment when I collapse on the couch and turn my brain mushy with junk tv. But, these kids are worth every second of our routine. I can make the time for an extra book, an extra minute of rocking, an extra "Jesus Loves Me" because all too soon they won't be asking me to do these things for them.
One of Eli's favorite books when he was younger (sheesh, the kid is only 3.... how much "younger" can he get!) was Love You Forever. (Ok, it was his favorite because the little boy was so naughty and threw the watch in the potty.....) but he would say these lines with me,
"I'll love you forever
I'll like you for always
As long as I'm living
My baby you'll be."
It's true. I will love you all forever.
It creates comfort and security.
It helps them think ahead to what's next.
It establishes good sleep patterns. (Crucial when poor sleepers run in the family!)
It's learning time when we sit together and read books.
It helps strengthen the mommy, daddy, baby/child bond.
And to this mommy, it's the time when my heart bursts with pride, joy, love, peace, and thanksgiving to God for blessing me with my kids.
I love bedtime. For many, many reasons.
I'll note here, Sydney puts herself to bed. At age 12, it's not cool to do all this "baby stuff" anymore. She gets time to herself to read and Kendall goes down to make sure she's set for the night. The routine that follows....that's for the boys. For now.
First, it's bath/shower time. The boys aren't always big fans of the whole getting clean part, but they cooperate (most of the time).
Sometimes Daddy helps with jammies.
Then we cuddle on the couch and read books. I'll admit sometimes I can only handle one book, but most nights we read 3-5. "One of a grouch's greatest joys.... One fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish.....George was a good little monkey but always very curious...... When bedtime comes I know just what to do" I think I have most of the books on our bookshelf memorized!
I introduced a chapter book this week and Eli really likes coming back to it every night to hear more of the story.
After a good teeth brushing and flossing, everyone gets hugs and kisses.
Isaac and I head to his room together and I usually hear "rock by me. you ding dong boo me?" It gets me every time. I wrap him up like a baby, sit him on my lap, and we rock and sing songs together. There's just something about my two-year-old boy singing Jesus Loves Me that brings tears to my eyes every time. (That's his favorite song and the first one we sing every time).
"You ding nudder dong?" And so we sing The B-I-B-L-E, The ABC's, The Books of the Bible, This Little Light of Mine, He's Got the Whole World, Jesus Loves the Little Children, and a variety of others.
More kisses and finally he's in bed after saying his prayers and then it's Eli's turn to get tucked in.
This kid has such a tender heart and wants to pray for anyone and everyone. After he's all tucked in (with WAY too many blankets, dolls, stuffed puppies, and usually a toy or two) he gets extra kisses and always, always asks for a drink of water. It has to be new water because the "old water tastes yucky."
There are nights when I rush through our routine because all I can think about is that moment when I collapse on the couch and turn my brain mushy with junk tv. But, these kids are worth every second of our routine. I can make the time for an extra book, an extra minute of rocking, an extra "Jesus Loves Me" because all too soon they won't be asking me to do these things for them.
One of Eli's favorite books when he was younger (sheesh, the kid is only 3.... how much "younger" can he get!) was Love You Forever. (Ok, it was his favorite because the little boy was so naughty and threw the watch in the potty.....) but he would say these lines with me,
"I'll love you forever
I'll like you for always
As long as I'm living
My baby you'll be."
It's true. I will love you all forever.
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