At bedtime we always read four books. Three of the books wait in their little pile on the side of the bed but the fourth is in a hiding place (usually in A's co-sleeper). This fourth book is called "Last One." Its identity developed out of D so consistently asking for "Just one last one" that we started to prep for it. We have an implicit understanding that Last One will be especially carefully selected: a new one, a favourite, or one that we haven't read for a while - bref, something to elicit a bit of excitement. After her bath and just before reading time, D will often ask, "Did you remember to hide Last One?" We also sometimes hear, "But I don't want that to be Last One!"
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Sometimes bedtime is tough (surprise, surprise). Luckily, D is generally a happy participant in the bedtime routine. She likes to play in the bath, likes to jump on the bed and likes to read books. The problematic moment comes when the lights go off and D wants me to lie with her until she falls asleep. (Actually, I`m pretty sure she thinks I`m going to sleep for the night too.) It`s okay with us that she doesn`t fall asleep alone; the problem is that she wants ME to lie with her. If I happen to be out of the house she`ll be fine going to sleep beside LePapa, but if I`m home and busy with A, or if it`s just LePapa`s turn, crises can ensue.
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A`s bedtime usually coincides with D`s bedtime. Once in a while, we`re feeling all thrilled that they`re both asleep at the early (to us) hour of 8:30pm and then A wakes up and makes it clear that he had not gone to bed for the night but was instead indulging in a third nap. And then he`s up late.
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Sometimes at my own bedtime I climb into bed between my two sleeping children, my husband an arm`s reach away, and I have a serious moment of grateful bliss. I am a mama bird, all satisfied and relaxed because everyone is together and peaceful in our family nest. Alternately, sometimes I wake up in the morning after a night of interrupted sleep and I say to LePapa, "Can you please get up with them so that I can have just a few minutes in this bed without anyone touching me?"
glad to hear that gabi is not the only one who is partial to mommy putting her to bed! we've been alternating who puts her to bed for quite a while but even then she sometimes kicks up a fuss when it's josh's turn. so i had an idea - i got her a calendar and she writes down a "B" (for "ba-ba") or "M" depending on who is putting her to bed that nite and then also crosses the day off. that way she can see who put her to bed the night before and she knows who it is for tonite. it helps that it's an activity for her. it also helps if josh has just spent some one-on-one time with her (as happened tonite).
ReplyDeleteoh the fun we have when us moms are the "favourites"! :o)