Bed Time Routine
Journey has a very specific bed time routine. We started it when she was just 6 or 7 months old. Its not rigid in regards to 'when' it happens but 'what' happens is pretty standard.
First we go potty and brush our teeth. Then we get into our pj's and Journey climbs into bed for some quiet time. She is allowed to read books, play with her stuffies, listen to music or stories.
When she feels ready she calls to us to come and read with her. Usually we read one or two books and then a Bible story. After the Bible story we pray together and sing 'our song'. (which is really the song my dad sang to me every night when I was a kid.) It goes: "God loves you and I love you and that's the way it should be. God loves Journey and I love Journey and that's the way it IS". Then we snuggle down in bed for a cuddle and we tell a story about her. Garron's story is an ongoing adventure but mine are just random things ... sometimes true, sometimes not. Her favorites of mine are when she is 'pulled' into her story books and gets to have adventures with Dora or Franklin (or the characters from whatever book she's been reading that day)
After that we have a minute of silent snuggling (daddy times us) and then I climb down, put on a tape (she chooses whether it will be a story or music) and I turn off the light. She tells me to have sweet dreams and I tell her the same. We wave goodnight and out I go.
Garron and I take turns going through this routine with her. The only part we always try to do together is the song.
Its really a great way to unwind after the day and I kinda wish someone would do it for me! My own bedtime routine consists of bathroom stuff, get into bed, listen to sports on the radio till Garron falls asleep, sudoku, and then at 11 o'clock I turn on my radio to catch the old radio shows like Burns and Allen, The Shadow, The Green Hornet, Wild Bill, Inner Sanctum, etc. I listen to those with my headphones till I drop off. Thankfully I have sleep function on my radio so the noise doesn't go on all night.
posted by Amy @ 7:00 PM
2 comments
2 Comments:
Sounds like a great routine - I was able to see it in action - when I heard you and Garron sing to Journey it brought a smile to my face as I remember you kids singing it to your dad on his 60th. When Kathryn and I were restless before bed, we would lie in our beds and my mom would put a chair in between our two beds - sing 'Jacob's Ladder' - at least 2 stanzas, then kiss us on the forehead and say goodnight. Lately my routine is I check my friends' blogsites before I go to bed. I also start my day that way too - after getting dressed for work and made my lunch I check my emails - then I am all set to begin my day.
Routines are excellent. That is how we get them our 3 to go to bed. If you say "bedtime" they just say aaaah noooo and it is horrible but if you start by saying "time for night night snack" they say ok! "time to go potty and brush your teeth and then story time" ok! and then sing to them usually a few before the finale (the i love you and He loves you one) and then we think and kiss and there ain't so much complaining. By the time we are done the routines everyone is tired and ready to sleep:)
though huddy needs a few visits from our big spoon before he stays put long enough to fall asleep- he is usually found on Josiah's bed looking out the window talking about the snow. He is probably there right now...gotta go:)
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