Bedtime routine for our two kids is a chore and a half. Ideally we would like them in bed and asleep by 8pm, but in reality it means they are in bed by 8pm but getting them to actually settle into sleep is another matter entirely. My primary tactic is to sit with them and try to bore them to sleep by prohibiting any further noise or engagement. However, the sneaky little buggers can see right through that and just make noises anyway; complain they can't sleep; can I have a drink? can I have my teddy bear? I want mummy, etc. I'm either shushing them or running errands for them and it's 930pm already and bloody hell why aren't these little rascals asleep yet!
Sometimes like tonight, I'd employ my secondary tactic which is to kiss them goodnight and leave the room. This is not much more effective than the primary tactic, as the kids just carry on chatting and giggling together until one of us checks the time and bloody hell it's 10pm already and why aren't those little rascals asleep yet?
Except tonight, Saffira had already drifted to sleep while little Vida's voice could be heard saying "Papi, I need you." over and over. Of course I come upstairs promptly lest she wakes up her sister. I sat on the floor next to her bed and gently asked her to go to sleep please. She reached out for my hand and kissed it, then snuggled with it. I watched her face as she looked me over and rubbed her tired eyes. Then it hit me, when was the last time something like this happened with me and my adult daughter? It was something I took for granted as back then I was too busy raising her that only now I realise we never really know when any loving task we cherish is done for the last time ever.
So I just ignored the urge to leave her for some other chore waiting downstairs and instead I just sat there for ages. I relished watching her toss and turn in her bed until eventually she fell asleep. Who knows when will be the last time I ever get to watch these little rascals drift off to sleep?
