Tip of the Day 3/16/12

Yesterday I had the privilege of speaking to a group of young Mom's at a MOPS group. One of the girls asked how to accomplish a calmer bedtime routine since it felt like she was "herding cats" every night. Every young parent has had that feeling. As you are picking up toys a child is behind you stripping his clean pj's back off and smearing diaper rash cream on his Teddy Bear because you didn't put it out of reach. Daddy spent the last 15 minutes chasing the children upstairs and tickling them so the would be worn out and ready to sleep. Now all they want is more and are all wound up. Everyone was tucked in bed and the "I need a drink of water" chorus has begun. Yes, it is often like "herding cats." Spring Break is a good time to begin establishing a new bedtime routine so you can find what does and doesn't work. As I told the group yesterday, one of the keys is to start earlier and establish a set routine. If you have been starting a 1/2 hour before your set goal of lights out and it never happens the simple solution is start earlier. Maybe you are trying to cram too much into the time. Are three stories, a song, 3 trips to the bathroom, a foot rub, etc. all necessary every night? Maybe a schedule of different aspects of the things you have been doing every night should be divided up, Tuesday is foot rub night, only one story and no song, Wednesday night, 2 stories and no foot rub or song, etc. Reward the child with their own book/reading time before lights out if they get to bed before lights out time. We had our girls in bed 30 minutes before lights out until they were teenagers for personal reading time. Even as teenagers they went to bed early to read and they still love to get in bed and read at night. By having special books they love or have picked out at the library reserved for this time they will be anxious to get to bed. The key to this aspect of bedtime is that you use BOOKS as the reward, NOT toys. Toys will re-stimulate as they talk and play. The goal is for the child to fall asleep, not wake up. A set timer is a great way for your child to just turn off the light. Be aware that your returning to their room will start the need for the bathroom, drink, kisses, etc. all over. Be available so if their is a genuine need, but allow nature to take it's course as your children fall into sweet sleep and hopefully you will also.

Word for Today, Alone: We all need time alone to pray and to listen. But even then we are not truly alone. The Bible tells us and shows us over and over that we need to be with others of like mind and Spirit and not isolate ourselves. Even God is three in one, never alone, and decided to create man for fellowship. Jesus as He walked the earth surrounded Himself with others to walk with Him. At the point of His betrayal as He went to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray He took others with and as He went deeper into the garden to pray He kept coming back to them to see if they were praying with Him. Moses needed others to hold his arms up during the battle, Paul had companions that traveled with on his journeys, God gave Adam Eve. As we study God's Word it is a rare thing to find someone alone as they walk their path. John the Baptist is a rare example and we are told the time he spent alone was in the wilderness. Surround yourself with others that will walk your path with you, hold your arms up in the battle, pray with you in your hour of need. "It is not good for man to be alone. Do not forsake the assembling of yourselves together." It's Friday, but Sunday's comin', and I can't wait to spend time with the ones that hold my arms up.