On Monday night, we had both girls in the bed at 7:30. We’ve established a new evening/bedtime routine in an attempt to alleviate stress and have a much happier time at home together. Over the summer, I’ve been really lax about bedtimes, dinners and television. The girls ate what they wanted and we rarely found time to cook, they whined their way out of a regular bedtime and they both watched as much TV as their little minds could muster. At times I felt very guilty for my attitude towards structure these last few months, but more often that not I attributed it to summer and reminded myself that it would pass and we would resume a normal, scheduled life come August. When we got ready for bed on Sunday night, there were tears about clothes and tears about television and even more tears about what time we were headed to bed. I announced that there would be no more television after dinner. Of course, tears were aplenty and regret was out in full force. Even so, I was determined to hold my position.
I worked from home on Monday so that I could ride with Josh to drop off and pick up on the first day of school. I don’t envy his morning routine, but I do miss that I’m not the one getting her ready and grabbing that last kiss on the cheek each morning. It was nice to share in that routine and to see her making new friends at school. Since we were all home together much earlier in the day than usual, I let them watch a few cartoons while they ate snack and I finished up some work on the computer. When SD got back from football practice, he threw the girls in the bathtub while I started supper. I tried not to answer too many questions about what we were having, knowing that when armed with knowledge Ella complains even louder. We had grilled chicken with cheese tortellini and even thought everyone thought they would hate it, both girls ate a sufficient meal with no after-dinner snacking. Ella even asked if there were other options and I told her that we were back to one meal a night, so it was either eat or go hungry.
After dinner, they played a game with their daddy while I cleaned the kitchen and folded laundry in their room. The house was filled with music, laughter and squeals and not a single song sung by a cartoon mouse or a high-school aged pop star. It was refreshing. By 7:30, the house was clean, laundry was done, daddy was working again and the girls had built a blanket fort in the living room floor. We all worked together to put it away and we were piled into the girls bed to read Junie B. Jones with absolutely no attitude. We read five chapters and both girls were happy at 7:45 when I turned out the light. They laid in bed talking for a bit, but it was the smoothest bedtime experience we’ve had in months. Hands down. I know that when we have an organized and structured home that things are always better, I don’t know why I let life take over and throw up my hands sometimes.
Here’s to early bedtimes, giggling girls and blanket forts!
