As a teenager, I told my mom my future kids would go to bed at 7 every night so I could have time for myself and time with my future husband. She told me, "Don't count on it."
My mother should have known that my stubborn nature--and natural resistance to authority--would dictate that I keep my promise.
Naturally, times change and, with it, bedtime. A couple days after last year's Fall time change, I realized the necessity of changing my own schedule to match my children's new bedtime and rising time: 6 pm and 6:30 or 7 am respectively. While it might seem extraordinarily early to put kids down at 6, it meant happier children and I was determined to cut back on fussiness. (Aren't we all?)
I believe this taught me an important lesson: While routines are excellent sanity savers, I must learn to be flexible.
Recently, Ben's work schedule changed drastically after he quit one of his jobs. He no longer works nights and weekends and is actually home to help feed, bathe, and put the babes into bed. With this development, once again I needed to alter our (meaning the kids' and mine) schedule to be more conducive for Ben's new work schedule. I still haven't figured out a perfect routine but I know that in time we will figure it out.
As positive as this sounds, I will admit my continued love of an early bedtime. Honestly, by 5 pm I am ready to say "good night" to my beloved children. My psyche can only handle so much screaming (Emily's new mode of exerting authority).
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