My older sons go to bed fairly easily. Prayer. Same song every night. Hug. Kiss. Bam. Lights out. Benjamin, on the other hand, likes to make bed time into some weird version of name that tune, where the only prize you win is the right to leave the room. Somewhere along the line this became acceptable. He is a curly headed evil genius, I tell you. So, here's how it works...first, we pray. This always goes smoothly, except now, he has taken to repeating the last two words of every sentence I say, making it somewhat awkward, but endearing none the less. Kind of like praying into a tin can.
Second, I ask what song he would like me to sing. Here's where it gets dicey. Six months ago, his vocabulary was seriously limited so he would say one or two words trying to indicate what song he wanted me to sing. In the beginning this worked well. Bible = B-I-B-L-E. Jesus = Jesus Loves Me. Love = I Love You Lord (Samuel's go to number). Then, randomly, one night, he says "mama." Oh, you want mama to sing? How sweet. Ok, "Jesus loves me...." No. MA-MA. You want a mama song? He smiles. Alright...hmmmm.....Honest to goodness, people, the only song I could think of was....Mamas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys. Good 'ole Waylon Jennings saved the day. He loved it. For the next two months that is how my two year old fell asleep.
Somewhere along the line that got old. So, as his vocabulary improved, so did his requests....Daddy = Hey Daddy by Ann Murray, which led to Animals Crackers in My Soup also known as Roar because of its reference to lions....there was a brief Adele phase followed by Jeremiah Was a Bullfrog by Credence Clearwater Revival (this was Micah's doing), and now, he has taken to giving me absolutely random words just to see what I can come up with. In the last few weeks, I've made up songs about children's church using the tune of We Go Together from Grease and Blue Christmas. The kid eats it up.
(cue moral of the story music)
I know for Benjamin its not really about the song. I know he's trying to wring out every last drop of time with me before he goes to bed and I'm cool with that...most nights. It does help me to slow down and enjoy those snuggly, bedtime moments. It also reminds me that Scripture tells us that our Heavenly Father sings over us, too. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing. -Zephaniah 3:17b. I love that. He will quiet me with his love and rejoice over me with singing. My Father tenderly takes the worries and burdens that I carry and replaces them with the warm lullaby of His love. Ultimately, that's what the bedtime song is about. At the end of our day, my baby and I get a few moments together and I can quiet him with my love through song. Whatever that song may be. :)
Cute stuff, Monica :) And by the way, rushing my girls through bedtime routine is one of my parenting regrets. I, too, was anxious to get some me-time, relaxing with a favorite tv show :) You're making the right choice to spend that time with him. Sing on! :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Cheryl!
DeleteHow long does it take when Aaron puts them down? It was always a struggle for me and A could do it in about 1.4 minutes with no water!! I would fuss at him to take them every now and then but usually it was me. I lost a treasure that was in the form of a video of my girls sleeping after one such night of rituals. So sweet. Now look at me. It's 2 in the morning and I need my Mom to come turn off my lights, sing me a song, pray with me, tuck me in and bring a cup ofwater
ReplyDeleteYes! It always takes me three times as long as it does Aaron. I think they know they can get more out of us. :) We are never too old to want our mom, that I know. Hope you were able to sleep, my friend.
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