It used to be a challenge to get all these animals to bed at night. Even though we have always had the same routine; dinner, shower, pj‘s, teeth, play a bit, book, then lights out for bed time. It seemed easy in the begining, until one became two, then three was very quickly four, NOW five, very soon to be six! SO, we just had too many at one time to put down. The hubby and I have always tag teamed at bedtime. Before our little Guatemalan princess came, we knew we had to revamp the system.
Then it hit me. What we needed was some limbo time that was not going to get out of hand. So here we go... our typical school night.
Dinner between 5:00 - 5:30.
Shower, tooth brushing and PJ‘s on, clothes picked out for the next day, usually all by 6:30.
Play time till 7:00.
Kiss little sister good night.
The 3, 5 and 6 year old are sent to their rooms for Quiet Reading Time. This consists of them picking out their books and sittting quietly in their bed for 15 minutes. The key word is QUIET. Whispering is allowed between the 3 and 5 year old, who share a room. If it goes above a whisper, after a warning, quiet time is over. This lasts about 15 minutes. It gives us time to bounce around between the two rooms to make sure bathroom duties and the proper amount of water has been consumed before the reading time with Daddy happens. It all happens quietly.
Lights are out at 7:30 between these three. I‘m in one room kissing the 6 year old, hubby is in with the 3 and 5 year old doing his crazy hugging, tickling, and generally being the silly, wonderful Dad he is. Kisses are blown across the room and the switch is made. It took about a week for them to really get it. Now it is just part of our “Night Life.”
The 11 year old gets to do 11 year old things during this time. Usually it consists of a game called QBeez 2, or computer projects with Dad. Last month, the hubby was teaching him Illustrator on our Mac. (He’s a Mac geek) This lasts till 8. Then, up to the room he goes for his quiet time - reading or drawing. When the clock hits 8:30, he gets his goodnight love and off to dreamland for him.
This really works for us. Getting the kids to bed isn’t the HUGE chore I know it could be. The hubby and I get our quiet time and life is good... I mean PERFECT!
Muthahood Ain’t For Sissies | Motherhood Ain’t For Sissies
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