Bedtime

So, kids are finally in bed. Let me rephrase, the kids are in their beds, lying there, being defiant and all the threats in the world are NOT working tonight. I have decided that Bedtime is the most stressful time in our house. I can control a lot of factors with my children, except one very important one: SLEEP.

My girls, are superstars at prolonging bedtime. On average, it takes about 1 hour to get my kidlets to bed. Yes, we have our routine, and I think that helps keep us on track. We have brushing teeth, which leads into story time and then we talk about the outline of our day for tomorrow. I bring up water for the girls, which by the way, must be in a certain colour cup, filled up to a specific level. We give kisses and hugs, and I make sure the door is open and the light is on in the hall and then the bathroom. We whisper "I love You" down the hall as to not wake the baby, and then I walk quietly downstairs to my waiting couch.

Now, what happens next is always the exciting, dramatic time of the night. I never know who will be coming downstairs first. Better yet, I never know how many times they will come down, or how many times I have to chase them the stairs yelling threats as they jump back into bed, not ever wanting anything in the first place. I never know how many times I have to go up and tell the girls to stop talking, or fighting, or getting out of bed (they have not yet masted the art of the tiptoe).

I am sometimes in trouble by a 4 year old because I have not picked the right clothes out for tomorrow, or even worse, if I forget to pick sometime out, I am in REAL trouble then!!

Someone always needs a water refill, or a blanket put on again, or someone has a sore hand or leg (out of freakin nowhere). Oh the Joys!! But you know, all is forgotten and all the stress goes right away when for the 48th time I am upstairs and telling my 4 year old to go to sleep and she lays there with her eyes closed pretending to be sleeping, but still answers in a quiet whisper, "I'm sleeping, shhh".



After all the stress of bedtime, the hour of running around and threatening to punish the kidlets if they don't listen, I almost always end the night off smiling about my kids. Whether it be a 4 year old that is trying to fool me about her being asleep, or an 8 year old that comes down for that last hug and kiss or a little baby boy that needs one more cuddle with mom before bed, it's all worth it. I love it all!! (OK, most nights!! haha)