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My daughters are 2, 4 and 6 years old, so bedtime is still a full-contact sport for me most nights. Between begging them to eat dinner, washing three squirming bodies and finally dressing them in their beloved pajamas, I am more tired by bedtime than they are. Yet somehow the last two hours of the day hold many big feelings and tiny, holy moments.
As the requests grow larger and faster (“Can I have water?” “More snuggles!” “Where is my stuffed animal?” “Can we read five more books?” “Do I have to pick out an outfit for school?”), I try to keep up with them and to maintain a patient, calming presence. I am not always the best at this, but we are all learning together. Many nights come to a breaking point, with overtired daughters and an overstimulated mom. This makes our bedtime routine even more critical.
We wind down the same way each night. I tuck the girls in and give them the same blessing. As I make the sign of the cross, I say, “God made you quirky and loves you a whole lot.” Some nights, this ritual is more a reminder for me than for my daughters. I also need to be reminded that my wild, strong-willed children were created as unique individuals, not perfect little miniadults. Now that we have been doing this specific bedtime blessing for over a year, the girls look forward to it. They also demand to bless each other, me and any lucky stuffed animals in the room.
To be honest, I look forward to the day when bedtime won’t be a battlefield — when the girls can ready themselves for bed, bless each other and just sleep. For now, I’m trying to embrace the chaos and enjoy my babies while they are still little.
Practices
- Give your kids a blessing each night. As you make the sign of the cross, say, “God made you quirky and loves you a whole lot.”
- Have your kids practice blessing you. Being the “blesser” is an excellent way for kids to give a powerful gift.
- Think about other times when you could use this blessing. It also works great at the bus stop, before leaving for school and at any other random moments when you fill in the gaps with grace.
During this wild holiday season, let this remind you that God made you quirky, too, and loves you a whole lot.
