Bedtime Routines

Bedtime is a crazy time in most houses with kids, and mine is no exception. I think my kids must have the strangest routines and rituals that must be accomplished before sleep is even an option.

Nora's Routine:

*Put cup in sink or fridge
*Grab a diaper
*Grab Blankie
*Run or ask to be carried up the stairs
*Potty and brush teeth (twice)
*Pick out PJs (two or three times)
*Put on diaper and PJs
*Put all Princesses in the pink box
*Put all baby dolls, stuffed animals, etc . . . in toy box
*Picks toy to "sleep" with
*Hugs and Kisses
*Make sure pillows are stacked in order (pink, big Fancy Nancy, little Fancy Nancy)
*Lay down, covered up by blankie with tag at bottom, then pink sheet, then Fancy Nancy blanket
*I - turn on her night light, humidifier, and flame-less candle
*Nora asks me not to turn off the light, I remind her it's bed time, she says "okay"
*I - turn off the light, say "Good Night" and "Love You" and close the door
*Two minutes later - Nora calls for me - she decides that she doesn't want her toy after all
*I - need to place the toy in the correct place or all is not right with Nora's world.
*I - leave the room, say "Good Night" and "Love You" and close the door


Corbin's Routine:

*Starts at the front window and walks slowly drinking milk all the way to the fridge
*Puts milk away and immediately begs for a snack (even though we just finished one)
*Runs upstairs
*Argues about whether he needs to go potty or not
*I - threaten to take his slide/tent/toy/etc . . . if he doesn't go potty
*Finally goes potty and affirms that yes, he did have to go potty
*Pick out PJs (changes mind twice)
*Put pillows in correct location on the bed (blue pillow next to the rail, Wubbzy and Buzz pillow at the top, light blue pillow next to the wall.)
*Put blankets in correct order (elephant, Thomas, penguins/or animal quilt, green comforter, Cars sleeping bag)
*Put toys in correct location (Buzz on blue pillow, Woody on light blue pillow, Wall * E against the wall, Bodhi the elephant next to Wall * E, Books and booklight next to Woody on light blue pillow.)
*I - fill his sippy cup with water - Corbin must watch me to make sure I am doing it correctly and test the water to make sure it is indeed wet.
*Turn on nightlight, humidifier, and flame-less candle
*Find five other toys to take to bed and find places for them
*Climb into bed
*Hugs and Kisses
*I - turn off the light
*We then have the following dialog (word for word):
ME: "Goodnight"
CORBIN: "Goodnight"
ME: "Night, night, sleep tight, don't let the bed bugs bite."
CORBIN: "I love you"
ME: "I love you too. Now stay in bed and go to sleep"
CORBIN: "Okay"
ME: "Goodnight"
CORBIN: "Goodnight"
*Need to repeat up to 3 times if "something" isn't right
*I - Close door
*I - Wait 2 minutes before going downstairs
*I - will either be called back or there is silence.

Seriously, this is my night every night! If one thing goes wrong someone has a meltdown. Of course Randall has no patience for this and will skip steps on the weekend. This of course causes either one or both kids to get up constantly until the routine is done to their liking. Randall hates this because he thinks the kids are trying to control us or we are encouraging OCD behavior. The truth is all toddlers like routine, they like knowing what comes next. That is why I take the kids upstairs for bed around 7:20, because it takes until almost 8pm to get both of them in bed. Randall under this illusion that when I say bed time is at 8pm, that that is when we go upstairs, so of course he gets frustrated because it takes 30 minutes to get them in bed and now they are going to bed late.

Then he starts in about how the kids are going to bed too early because they get up around 6 - 6:30. I honestly don't know what he's complaining about since I'm the one getting up with them whether it's 6am or 5:30am. I'm the one who has to take care of things when one of the kids has a bad dream or is feeling sick - it doesn't matter what day of the week it is - Randall refuses to get out of bed before 8am sometimes 8:30am. And he wonders why I need to take a nap later in the day or why I'm tired all the time - well if he was going to sleep after 1am and waking up around 5:30/6:00 to deal with Mr. Morning Person and Miss Grouchy he would be tired all the time too.

WOW, that rant just came out of no where.