When you become a parent, you might find yourself believing that ancient druids were onto something profound. For those without kids, this might sound ludicrous, but as a parent, routine transforms into ritual, evolving into a kind of sacred practice. To outsiders, this concept can be baffling, especially in social settings.
At a gathering, my partner and I often exchange glances when the clock indicates bedtime is nearing. It’s as if we both recognize that the proverbial Doomsday Clock has struck. We hastily gather our little ones, say a quick goodbye, and dash home, hoping to get them to their safe haven—their bedroom—before the impending tantrums strike.
If you discover a routine that helps tackle daily parenting struggles—like getting dressed, teaching manners, or preventing hunger—it’s not far-fetched to imagine yourself in ceremonial garb, invoking the protection of a Celtic deity like Iovantucarus, the guardian of children.
Nowhere is this more evident than during bedtime. My partner and I take turns putting our toddler to bed, and on my designated evenings, it’s often the most dreaded part of the day. It should signal the end of my parenting duties, but far too often, it feels like the beginning of chaos.
Despite being completely worn out from missing their nap and running around all evening, my child somehow remains energized. I often find myself giving in to requests for an extra story or a fun video clip, only to be met with giggles and unexpected outbursts of “pizza!”
Then, the moment of truth arrives. A simple mistake—like not tucking them in the “right” way or misplacing a favorite stuffed animal—can send them spiraling into a frenzy. If I tell a story that doesn’t feature their newly beloved animal, a capybara (which they’ve only just learned about), the situation can quickly escalate. Before long, I’m entrenched in a debate about the details of the tale, only to realize that they’re operating in a state I like to call “toddler drunk.”
At this stage, you might as well get comfy because you’re in for a lengthy stay as you “cuddle” (or rather, lose circulation in your limbs) in their bed. The process becomes a reverse interrogation, where your sleepy little one demands you fix your supposed errors, and you’re left scratching your head, baffled and apologetic.
But when toddlers reach this point, they often lack clarity themselves. They are simply unhappy, abandoning any semblance of reason. The good cop has vanished, and the bad cop has taken over. Calming them down can be a monumental task.
To combat this, we’ve established a clear bedtime ritual that, barring natural disasters, remains unchanged: dinner, playtime, pajamas, a show, a story, teeth brushing, and then off to bed. It’s here that the real fun begins.
My son loves to “chat a bit” before sleep, and these conversations can be a minefield of potential missteps. Yet, I relish these moments, as they often lead to unexpected insights.
He’ll bounce from discussing his day at daycare to imagining what it would be like if “Darth Bader” rode a donkey munching on pizza. Occasionally, a topic becomes a favorite. For a while, he was fixated on sheepdogs and their role in protecting sheep. Then, out of the blue, he pivoted to a subject that has captivated him for a year: the war in Syria.
He picked this up from a radio report, and after explaining the situation to him, I’ve found he frequently circles back to it, asking me to locate Syria on a globe or suggesting I could use my tools to “fix all the houses” there. His innocent humor shines through, as he once quipped, “Daddy, in Syria, where the war is, the houses got broke. Yeah, there was probably a big bad wolf there.”
So, while I often dread the task of putting my son to bed, I also look forward to it. It encapsulates the essence of parenting: a daunting yet rewarding journey filled with moments that surprise and delight, transforming the mundane into something extraordinary.
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Summary
The article reflects on the bittersweet experience of bedtime rituals with toddlers, illustrating the balance of dread and delight in parenting. While the routine can often lead to chaos and confusion, it also brings cherished moments of connection and humor that define the journey of raising a child.