Bedtime Struggles Are Real

I have this funny little habit of feeling like I’m losing my childhood over and over. It’s bedtime with the kids, tonight was a special mission to get them into bed before 8 PM, because tomorrow is an early morning for everyone. But there they were, still wide awake and chatting away in their pajamas like it’s 3 PM. My heart just feels heavy sometimes, watching them miss out on sleep that I know is so important for growing up happy and healthy. They chatter about dinosaurs and adventures in the backyard, but all I can think about is how much easier this would be if they could just go to bed when their little bodies tell them to. And yet, I find myself extending storytime or making more snacks because those giggles are contagious and I don’t want the night to end either. It’s a beautiful kind of struggle, but it sure feels like losing something precious over and over.