I am blessed with a child who sleeps very well through the night. Once he goes to bed, barring a need to use the restroom, he?s there for the night. No jack-in-the-box bedtimes here. A rarity with a young child, so I hear.
Though, at times, I?d like to think perhaps we ?earned this?, as he didn?t sleep through the night well until nearly turning one, and the routine leading up to a successful bedtime has always been rather long.
When he was just a baby, it was diaper change, pajamas, brushing teeth, two books, followed by a final feeding, and then rocking and snuggling to Jack Johnson?s ?Good People? twice, then waiting for the drowsy eyes and slowly, ever so gently, laying him in his crib.
As we shifted away from diapers and final night feedings, the routine morphed into bath, pajamas, brush teeth, a story or two, and snuggling together in his big boy bed while Jack Johnson crooned away for a few songs.
And lately, in more recent days, the routine has become shower, pajamas, brush teeth, a story that he reads to us (slowly but surely), and snuggling in his bed while Super Mario, Legend of Zelda and Angry Birds themes, covered by an orchestra, waft through the air.
The bedtime routine has never been a speedy process ? in its entirety, it?s at least 40 minutes in length. Some evenings, it immediately follows an endless dinner of ?how many more bites?? ?until it?s gone? ?is that three?? ?it?s until it?s gone? ?you have five minutes to finish up? ?but I?m still hungry? ?then eat.? Some evenings, by the end of the bedtime routine, mom and dad are in fact quite tired and ready for some downtime of their own, and snuggle time is cut a little short. This usually comes with some protest, but in the end, it?s ?time for bed.?
Tonight however, as I lay next to my son, wrapped in his Angry Bird blanket, gently twisting his blue fuzzy blanket in his right hand while holding my hand with his left, I realized ? these days, these moments ? are numbered. And they are slipping away with each ?time for bed.?
He?s five now, and seemingly going on ten. He?s smart beyond his years, taller than most his age, but still allows his mama to kiss him on the forehead, and still wants her to snuggle him before he sleeps. This won?t last forever.
So, tonight, I stayed by his side until his breathing slowed and he started to snore lightly. Through three video game songs and probably 25 color rotations of his Ikea nightlight. Because if I only have a limited number of nights like this remaining, I?m going to appreciate them while they?re here.
[featured image via Babble]
Natali
Natali Carrera is a full-time working mom, wife, web-writer and recovering Target addict. Oh let?s just be honest. She?s not likely recovering.
More Posts
Source: http://thefullmoxie.com/2012/10/21/the-beauty-of-bedtime/
birth control pill recall ground hog day florida primary results black history groundhogs day paula abdul cinnamon challenge
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.