I am so excited about my son's new business Cushla! Jonathan has been spending hours and hours doing research to develop just the right products for the littles of the world. I am Memaw, blessed with 5 beautiful grandchildren, who I spend tons of time with. The greatest gift you can give a child is the gift of your TIME. As an RN with experience in Pediatrics and Children's Mental Health, I have a few bedtime secrets to share with you….ssshhhhhhh……
After a day of active play and learning together, we begin our bedtime routine. We start at about 6:30, after we've had supper and maybe a snack in the evening to make sure they have a full belly to get them through the night.
First is a warm bubble bath, with of course a little more play time and freedom of expression. Who doesn't like a warm bath after a hard days work? Being a child experiencing life throughout the day and trying to learn to self regulate is hard work! Did you know the average American family spends about 90 minutes a day with their child 1:1? Think about that….90 minutes….. after day care, school, working, daily chores, extra curricular activities, and supper with your child (hopefully you are all having supper together, but that's for another blog lol), bedtime is the most precious time of the day.
Second, it's comfy jammies, (wait…. maybe another Cushla product?). Then we read two bedtime stories. Usually, the stories are food for thought for the littles, i.e., sharing is caring, how to deal with frustration, or how good love feels. By now they have had their fifth drink of water…..the water is beside their bed, in their favourite leak proof cup so they are not getting out of bed every time they need a sip. Drinking water at bedtime is one way a child learns to self regulate their sensitive nervous systems, very important, trust me!
Third, making sure they have their favourite pillow and blanket (soon to be a Cushla!), we all "cuddle in". For us, it is now around 7:00 and the lights go out, the room is dark and they feel safe in their bed. Now comes the most important part….talking…they know the routine. I might start with, "What did you do today that was kind?", or "Did someone hurt your feelings today?". Give them time to think of their answers, all you have to do is listen, don't interrupt them. If you have set the stage for this most valuable conversation, they will share! They may not need any prompting, they will share what is on their minds. Help them process their experiences, but remember you are doing more listening than talking.
Fourth, we say a short "bless and grateful" prayer. Let them share who they want to bless and what they are grateful for. For my grandbabies this usually includes blessing family members, friends, teachers and especially themselves. Sometimes they say, "We are grateful for you Memaw". lol. Thats a win for me! I also share my bless you and grateful thoughts, always blessing and being grateful for them.
Fifth, it's quiet time. Together we take three deep breaths with long exhales, like blowing up a balloon. By this time they are ready for sleep. They have been listened to, they know they have been heard and they know they are important little humans. The last thing they hear from me before they drift off into their dream world is, "Sweet dreams, I LOVE YOU"…..
It is now 7:30, see that didn't take long! Their breathing is slow and steady, maybe a little snore sound happening. Success once again!
As a parent or grandparent, treasure these moments with your littles, time goes way too fast. You are teaching internal peace and self-regulation in a noisy world that never stops. Sleep tight everyone!
— Melody Hurtubise (Memaw)
About the author: Melody Hurtubise (Memaw) is a retired Registered Nurse with experience in Pediatrics and Children's Mental Health. She's the proud grandmother of five and believes the greatest gift you can give a child is the gift of your time.
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