As my son grows I am aware of how bedtimes have changed and evolved for us. When he slept under my arm as a newborn, when he began sleeping in his Ambybaby and then his bed, our family bed and all the transitions in between.
I remember the exhaustion of the early years and now know how much I have come to love our routines as a way of connecting. Now my son has nights when he prefers his father to put him to bed and I must admit that while there is nothing more beautiful than watching my husband with my son, I miss those final kisses of the day.
Last night I asked, “If Daddy is going to put you to bed, do you have any extra special hugs for me?” “Mommy, I will give you the most specialist hug and kiss I have!” he replied. He did and it helped me to sleep.
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This post was inspired by a beautiful article in the New York Times by Siri Hustvedt. I hope you will take a moment to read it. It touches on the importance of bedtime routines and rituals, how they shape us and prepare us for dreamtime.
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