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Good Night Routines

Our typical bed time routine is Burke and Maggie go into their room with Daddy for a good night story (usually a made up story that involves Lightnin’ McQueen, Cinderella, a castle, someone needing help and Maggie, Burke, and Logan saving the day. Throw in a wizard, tunnels through the mountains that get you anywhere you want to go just by walking for 5 minutes, a flying – and talking – bathtub, and various other things I can’t even begin to keep track of and you’ve got quite the story each night. Perhaps I’ll have him start to write some down…)

While that’s going on, I’m in Logan’s room with him trying to decide if he wants the Good Night Song, Twinkle Twinkle, or – most recently – the “Bear song.” (Ya…funny story. While Ms. Speech was here one day, she was asking about how his speech group was going and asking if he sang this song or that song…he answered “yes” to all of the ones she asked. She looked at me as if to say, “Is he just going to say ‘yes’ to everything?” so I asked, “Logan, did you sing the Bear song?” just to see what he’d say. He looked at me and said “no….” but then asked for the Bear song that night for a bed time song. Luckily, I could remember some words to The Teddy Bear Picnic, and that seemed to suffice.)

Then Logan tries to figure out if he wants to sleep in his bed or on the floor. (He hasn’t requested the rocking chair much since that one time I found him up-side-down.) More and more he heads for his bed. WOOT!

Then I go in to Burke and Maggie’s room to sing the Good Night Song and recently, Burke’s been requesting that I stay to sing the Lullaby song as well. Leave it to Mike to make up words to Brahms’ Lullaby (Lullaby and Good Night):

Lullaby and Good Night,
Go to sleep Burke and Maggie.
Mommy loves you,
Daddy loves you,
And Logan do-es too.

Lullaby and Good Night,
Go to sleep Burke and Maggie.
Mommy loves you,
Daddy loves you,
And Logan do-es too.

You’re honest and kind,
And you work very hard.
You’re handsome and pretty,
And both brave and smart.

(And then Burke added: And pretty cute.)

On my way out the door I hear “Good night! I love you! See you in the morning! Sleep well! I’ll love you forever!”

When Daddy’s Away

Mike doesn’t leave us that often, but there are a few conferences he goes to throughout the year, and there are nights when he teaches so he’s not home for the kids’ bed time.

Our usual bed time routine is that Mike gets the twins ready for bed while I put Logan down. Once Logan is set for the night, I go in to kiss the twins good night and thenΒ  Mike stays with them for a little bit while they settle down.

Obviously, this routine changes when Mike’s not here. A typical Daddy-night-out bed time routine means that the twins get a TV show while I go up and put Logan down.

Once Logan is set, I bring their PJs down and we get ready downstairs instead of in the bathroom that’s next to Logan’s room. We brush our teeth with the the downstairs toothbrushes and then (ha ha) quietly go up to their room.

As with Daddy’s usual routine, one kid gets the coveted rocking chair and the other gets the blanket on the floor. (I’m still not sure why these spots are more appealing than their beds.) We then break into song.

Good night, good night, good night <person>
Good night, good night, good night <person>
Good night, good night, good night <person>
Good night, good night

Or if it’s a longer name (like Aunt someone), it’s:

Good night, good night <longer person>
Good night, good night <longer person>
Good night, good night <longer person>
Good night, good night

You get the idea.

After we get through the immediate family, I ask the kids who comes next. Here’s our list, in no particular order except that Burke and Maggie are always first and then last together.

Burke
Maggie
Logan
Mommy
Daddy
Grandpa
Nana
Pop Pop
Mop Mop
Granny Frani
Aunt Meghan
Aunt Sharon
Aunt Cathy
Uncle Jason
Cousin Grey
Uncle Jim
Aunt Lynn
Aunt Kahki
Cousin Jainee
Cousin Joshy
Burke and Maggie

Occasionally my dad’s dog, Qunicy, gets thrown in. And Brenda shows up as well. And random friends from school (I won’t name names – but *sigh* Burke usually requests girls…and boys for Maggie…really? already? πŸ˜‰ )

Lately, the kids have wanted to sing the song with both mommy and daddy. That’s cool with me πŸ™‚

Do you have different bed time routines depending on who is around to help?