Good evening everyone,
I am having an issue with our children’s (ds6 and dd4.5) bedtime routines. Let me start this off by saying that both children are EXCELLENT sleepers. We have never had issues with them getting out of bed, playing/talking in bed, or whining when it’s time to go to bed. They have always had great sleeping habits and have never complained about bedtime or naptime–they still take a nap everyday!
My issue (it’s not their’s…solely mine) is their routine. We’ve been singing the exact.same.songs and praying.the.exact.same.prayers for over 4 years now. When I put them to bed by myself (dh works 4 nights a week), I rock my dd, sing 2 songs, and pray the same prayer; then I rock my ds, sing 2 songs, and pray the same prayer. It’s not that I don’t cherish these times; it’s just that the children don’t stay still during our bedtime rituals anymore, especially dd. When dh is home, the routine is the same, but then he repeats it with each child.
They used to melt into my arms, lay perfectly still and listen to me sing and pray. Now, dd will make funny faces at me, wiggle, and sometimes sing along, but use the wrong words on purpose. My ds is still, but he doesn’t seem to be interested in what I’m doing. The problem comes when I try to veer off this routine; they both get very upset.
I know routines are a security blanket for kids, especially young ones. I don’t want to take away their security or the sweet time of putting them to bed at night. I also don’t feel comfortable with just kissing them goodnight and sending them off to bed. I just wonder if maybe they’re getting a little too old for the long, drawn-out bedtime routine. Maybe it’s time for something shorter and simpler? If that’s the case, I don’t know how to work that transition.
Any thoughts??
~Lindsey