I’m just going to be real with you for a minute. Lately, I have completely failed at bedtime. I don’t mean I’ve failed at getting the girls to bed at a decent time, but that I have failed to be a good mom at bedtime.
It happens like this. I know that there are going to be issues at bedtime. I syche myself up before even setting foot in the girls bedroom. This is the night I’m going to be patient, I tell myself. I envision bedtime prayers and snuggles and a goodnight song.
What REALLY happens is that the girls remember every single little thing that happened to them today and they must tell me all about it right this second. These are the things they couldn’t remember a few hours earlier as I was digging for info about their school day.
Being the good, patient mom that I am, I sit quietly and listen to two stories. Then three. I calmly shut them down somewhere around the tenth story and it’s then that the song requests start. Sing Hush-a-bye Mom. Sing I Love You Forever. I want to hear You Are My Sunshine! I sing a song or two and go in for goodnight kisses.
But then, simultaneously, both Kyndall and Libby become so parched and thirsty that they cannot even swallow their own spit and will positively dehydrate if they don’t get a drink this very second. Seriously, I’m considering calling Dr. Hull–this must be some medical condition.
And if you give a girl a drink, she is going to have to use the bathroom.
Finally, after stories and songs and drinks and bathroom visits, both girls are back in bed and I attempt, once again, to give goodnight hugs and kisses. One girl will be too hot, the other too cold, and I feel my crazy starting to slip out. On a good night, I hug/kiss/smile sweetly as I say sweet dreams and walk out amidst whines and pleas.
On a regular night, I lose it. I order them to go to sleep with no more talking. No more moving. And then I’ve ended our day feeling like a horrible mom. And I go to my bedroom thinking how badly the bedtime routine played out again.
It’s just, the bedtime struggle is real, y’all. I know it will get better…it has to, right? Right? But right now, in this season of life, it’s a battle.
Solidarity to you other momma’s out there ready for some Calgon come bedtime. {Do they even still make Calgon? I haven’t seen a commercial in years. Calgon–take me away!}
I feel your pain! Three girls worth. But what do you do? We tried everything. Same results you are going through. They just did not want to let go and get into bed. This was the solution we came up with and it worked better than anything else….and it had the added benefit that we quite stressing about it. We sat them down and told them that bedtime was realllllllly important. And that because they were not old like mom and dad, they needed to get in bed at a reasonable hour and go to sleep. And then we had to get a little tough. 30 minutes before we wanted them in bed we told them that was the time for any additional information or story time or whatever. They could watch a movie in bed during this time if they chose to spend the time that way but they knew they were giving up play time or a story. 10 minutes and counting, we had a last drink, potty time and the tooth regime. Hugs and kisses and a shortened song time and then in bed. Had to get out the monster spray for a while (water bottle with monster fighting magic that was misted in the closet and under bed) and then we shut lights off and left some music on. They usually giggled a bit and talked and yes, even snuck out about 10 billion times but after a couple of weeks, they quit struggling and started watching the clock for the 30 minute countdown. And on the nights that did not go so smoothly, well that is ok too. So you are doing it right. It will all get better. One day they will be trying to go to bed at 6:00 pm and you will want them to fold laundry or wash the dog. And they will sleep that perfect and beautiful sleep that only a teenager can manage. You remember that sleep— the kind that an entire marching band cannot disturb.
All great ideas! I am definitely going to attempt starting bedtime a little earlier!