Tucking the kids in for bed is one of my favorite times of the day. No matter how hectic the day has been, it seems to slow down at bedtime and I get to enjoy each of my kids, one at a time. In a house of eight, that’s amazing.
I have a different bedtime routine with each child. With some, we just spend time talking about the day, worries they have, prayers that need answers. Others, we play a little bedtime game of the tickle monster. With Riley, I would sing the song my mom sang to me. Every night, Riley and I would pray for him and his family and then I’d sing:
I love you so much,
I love you so much,
I can’t even tell you how much I love you,
You’re special to me,
You’re special to me,
I’m so very glad that you’re part of my life.
I love you, I love you, I love you
I love you, I love you, I love you,
I love you so much (then we’d give a big hug), I love you so much (hug time again)
I’m so very glad that you’re part of my life.
One day, about a year after Riley arrived at the Ranch, his prayers were answered and he was adopted. On his last night, I’ll confess I was having a hard time letting go of this sweet little boy. However, I went into his room we talked a little about his exciting future with his new family and then I started to sing. I did alright until I got to the line, “I’m so very glad that you’re part of my life,” and I just lost it.
Riley didn’t hesitate. While I tried to pull myself together, he jumped right in and sang:
I love you, I love you, I love you
I love you, I love you, I love you,
I love you so much (one last hug), I love you so much (he squeezed so tight)
And we sang together:
“I’m so very glad that you’re part of my life.”
What are some of your bedtime routines with your children? Share with us on Facebook.