It doesn't matter how old your children are; tucking them into bed or saying goodnight can be a real bonding time. It is usually a time when the child is relaxed and willing to share or talk about things.
I know on many occasions I have been in a rush to get my children into bed. I just wanted them to lie down so that I could get on with my projects, tasks, or even possibly - get to bed myself. When I do that - those are wasted times for both my children and me.
My heart truly loves taking a few extra minutes with them at bedtime. I often will lie down next to them and cuddle. My 8 year old uses this time to ask me every question under the sun.
"Do you like red or purple better?"
"Why do you like daddy?"
Things that I haven't even really taken the time to think through!
It's a great time to instill morals, values, and most of all to simply love my children. I like to hold them tightly, caress their faces and stroke their hair. For they will be older all too soon, and their bedroom door will be closed to me. I pray that these times I take with them now - will keep that door open to me in the future.
Bedtime can be a really rushed time. It can be a time to usher our children out of our sight. (By the way, I have found my children don't settle down as well when I do this but instead - when I take time with them at night, they feel more secure and readily go off to sleep!)
You can choose to enjoy the bedtime ritual with your children. Even if they are teens, sit on the edge of their bed and talk softly with them for a few minutes. Hug them and let them know you love them.
This is a valuable time of day. Slow down and enjoy it. Take in the moment. It is too easily overlooked.
I fall prey, too often, to that rushed bedtime - thinking, just fall asleep already, but without fail...the times I linger and love, bless my socks off {and theirs!}. With my hubby working nights, the bedtime routine can feel like just one more thing I do alone...but God has been nudging me to not bemoan this time, but allow it to be a poignant reminder than many women parent alone... exclusively. It's breaking my heart for single parents! Thanks for the reminder to treasure these precious moments!
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