“Mom, make sure you tuck me in tonight”
When I hear this I know someone has something on her mind.
Parenting tip: don’t stop tucking your kids in at night.
When do you stop tucking your kids in at night? I’m sure whatever you do is fine. For us, its turned into a special and important part of our family.
I know bedtime can take FOREVER and you’re so glad they can finally get to bed by themselves.
You finally don’t have to read them story after story and do the whole song and dance and all you want is some time alone.
But, what if as they get older, this IS the time you get with them?
What if bedtime becomes the time they actually want to talk with you and not their friends?
When this happened for me I had a big choice to make.
If I kept going to bed at 10:30 so I could exercise in the early morning, I couldn’t stay up and talk to my teen. She certainly wasn’t going to bed before 10:30.
It felt like such a huge sacrifice, but she was alive and awake and full of stories and questions at bedtime.
Years later our teenagers thank us for still tucking them in.
They love knowing they always have that time to connect and feel loved.
Sometimes it’s just Dad. Sometimes it’s just Mom. Sometimes it’s one after the other or both.
Sometimes the questions never stop and I say good night over and over and even shut the door multiple times, but the questions keep coming, so I keep answering.
Sometimes I say, “no more questions, good night!”
Sometimes it’s deeply personal or tear-filled.
Sometimes I’m angry and tell them I’m too upset.
Sometimes its full of laughter and goes way to long.
Sometimes I don’t feel well or am going to bed early and insist that they come tuck me in.
Sometimes it’s brief, but always with, “I Love You,” or “I love you always” or
“Always remember to never forget that I love you”
Even when our college daughter moved back home for a time? yes, even then, but only because she still welcomed it.
Let me help you create the bonding moments in your family and open the doors for communication. It doesn’t have to be bedtime, but a consistent regular time to talk one on one, even briefly, is powerful.
I’m doing free sessions for missionaries and parents. Schedule a time for a FREE session. Have a quick question? Shoot me an email at info@jillfreestone.com. I’d love to hear from you.
