If you’re a regular reader, you know I like to keep my life simple. Kids can sometimes make even simple things messy. This doesn’t work for me.
Lately bedtime has been a problem in our house. Miss O has become a master staller. She can’t brush her teeth until she shows me her new dance move, which is 15 minutes long. She can’t go potty until she tells me a story (and has to restart 45 times). She can’t get her jammies on until she gets a bandage for her imaginary boo-boo. It goes on and on.
I used to love this about bedtime. It was a fun time at the end of the day when I could snuggle with my girl. But as time has gone on, her bedtime has gotten pushed back later and later, moving into my time. That’s a no-go. My time is when I recharge, relax, and get myself ready to tackle another day. It makes me a better mom, and it’s a priority for me.
With every stall from Miss O I would get more and more irritated. I resented her for stealing my time. And while that may sound ridiculous, it’s how I felt.
Something had to change.
Once again, a small change has made a big difference.
Our old bedtime routine began at 7:25. We brush teeth, use the potty, get our jammies on, read a story, and go to bed. It took a ridiculous amount of time and she was rarely in bed before 8:15.
A few nights ago I made one simple switch that has changed our nights. Now we get ready for bed by brushing our teeth, going potty, and getting jammies on at 6:50. After we’re done, she gets to watch Sofia the First before story time.
Now if she stalls, she’s stealing her own time. She’s missing her show. Her stalling doesn’t bother me anymore because it doesn’t delay my time. Of course now she doesn’t stall… she’s no dummy!
At 7:25 we go read a story, and she’s in bed by 7:45.
Not only have I gained my time back, but I have gotten back my love of bedtime.
