No More Bedtime

I can’t believe I’m saying this and don’t hate me for it but I’m pretty much done with bedtime.

That’s right, no more bedtime!

 

 

Ouch, it hurts my heart just a little bit but the truth is that they don’t need me at bedtime as much as they used to. And I’m totally ok with that, or at least I’m gonna have to be. When the kids were really little, like 6 and under (4, 1 & 1) and 8 and under our bedtime routine was a family affair. It was tradition. It was necessary for peace, harmony and sanity! All 4 kids upstairs. The babies got baths. The big girls got to help. The babies got a bottle and a rock in the rocker set to the tune of what ever song I had humming around in my head that day. Probably Lady Gaga or Justin Timberlake. PJ’s for all. An evening snack of baby training toothpaste for all because lets be real, most of that toothpaste either ends up in their belly or smeared on the towel in the bathroom. Then we would sit for a story. The stories were my favourite. The silence of the room except for the rhythmic beat of the words and all eyes on the pictures as their imagination fuel tanks got their fill before dream time. I always loved reading the books that had a rhythm like Room on a Broom or The 7 Silly Eaters or the Gruffalo or anything by Dr. Seuss. Eventually the kids knew the words by heart as much as I did.

Flash forward to 10 and under (8, 6 and 6) and they’re doing homework before bed, showering instead of bathing, brushing their teeth with electric toothbrushes and reading chapter books about a high school filled with the offspring of the princesses we used to read about. Everything is growing up. The 10 year old wants to read fun, silly stories to the little ones and the 8 year old wants to read aloud to herself (for practice). No one needs help to put baby powder scented cream on after their bath. No one needs me to find their favourite stuffy (I know where it is mom). No one wants me to brush their hair after their shower.

Sigh.

So I direct traffic in the bathroom and ensure chores and tasks are done before bedtime and then send them off to bed to read. Sometimes from the couch 🙂 There have been a few nights where we forgot what time it was and realized that the kids had completed their tasks and gone off to bed without a peep and when we rush upstairs to check on them, find them fast asleep without even yelling for a good night kiss.

Sniff.

Now the new routine is simple. When all the homework and piano practice is done for the day they are sent upstairs to get their Pj’s on and brush teeth, alone. They can shower alone. Pick out their clothes for school the next day, alone. Even make their own lunches for school, alone. I can hardly believe it’s come to this. Such independence. Such pride. Sometimes they come to us to say good night and get hugs before running up the steps taking 2 at a time. And sometimes we follow them up for that last hug and tuck. But one thing is for sure, no matter how old they get and how little they want or need from me, I will always creep into their rooms just before I turn in for the night and look at each of my daughters as they sleep. I will pull their blankets up over their shoulders. I will tuck their stuffy under their chin. I will brush their tussled hair from their faces and I will kiss their sweet soft cheeks and whisper,

“I love you so much, good night”

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