Just another weekday-night.
7:30 PM. Begin a very relaxed, unhurried bedtime routine. Get little faces and hands washed, teeth brushed, pajamas on, and bedtime stories chosen.
8:00 PM. Finish reading the last story. Tuck the boys in and kiss them goodnight. Manage to get downstairs without any extra requests for water, night-light adjustments, hugs/kisses, songs, questions about tomorrow’s schedule, etc.
8:30 PM. Sitting on the couch and hear the creak of a door being opened, and the pitter-patter of little feet. Assume someone has a sudden urge to pee, and ignore it.
The pitter-patter continues and then, two little boys are peering at me from the top of the stairway landing.
Aiden: Mom, can we sleep on the stairs tonight?
Me: Huh? No.
A: Pleeeeaaase? I’ve got pillows and blankets ready and everything.
Me: No.
A: But I want to sleep on the stairs.
Connor: Me too.
Me: Please go back to bed.
Both Children: BUT WE WANT TO SLEEP ON THE STAIRS PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE.
Me (desperation mode): How about the closet? You can put your pillows and blankets in there and pretend it’s a sleepover.
Kids: YAY!
9:00 PM. The children go upstairs. Still lots of pitter-patter and doors creaking. Finally, I decide to intervene. Arrive upstairs and catch Connor halfway to the bathroom with an empty sippy cup. Aiden is following right behind.
Aiden: Connor needs more water. I was helping him.
Me: I’ll get the water. Go. Lay. Down.
Boys get settled with their blankets and pillows in Aiden’s closet. Aiden is using a pillowcase as a sleep sack and Connor has brought in his alarm clock. We leave the closet door open (my rule) and I allow the bedroom lamp to be on (their request).
9:30 PM. It has now been 90 minutes since bedtime. I am still hearing muffled talking from the bedroom. I go investigate and they both come out of the bedroom.
Me: What do you need NOW?
Aiden: Nothing.
Me: THEN WHY AREN’T YOU LAYING DOWN QUIETLY WITH YOUR EYES CLOSED?!
A:
Me: If I have to tell you guys one more time to stop talking and close your eyes, you’re both going to go sleep in your own beds. (Now that’s a threat I never imagined myself saying).
Connor: (crying) But I want to sleep on the floor in the closet! In Aiden’s room!
Me: Last chance. GO.
10:00 PM. Things are mostly quiet now.
10:30 PM. Haven’t heard a peep in at least 15-20 minutes. Head upstairs to check on them before I got to bed myself. Sure enough, they are passed out. Sweet, angelic, little weirdos.
