On Tucking in My 4-Year-Old

I've heard many parents say that bedtime routines can sometimes take forever. I've been there.

There is always one more story, one more drink to take, one more something. Of course, I realize these times won't last forever, but Momma needs to hit the sack before the paperboy delivers the day's news.

My 4-year-old will think of all kinds of reasons to delay the tuck-in process. And at the end of his countless excuses, such as 'I need some cream...I have the itchies, I forgot to shut the toilet lid, What do I do if I get hot,' etc, he always asks me or his Dad the same question.

Are you going to stay up?

And we always say yes. He doesn't care what we'll be doing, but he doesn't want us to go to bed. Spend time on the computer, watch tv, take a bubble bath, write my blog, but don't sleep. This has been a routine of his for a couple of months now. It's as routine as stepping into a pair of underwear, yet that's probably not the best example since this is the son that often forgoes 'em. I've even found myself offering up the information before he asks, saying 'Night, Hayden. Mommy loves you. And I'm staying up.'

Curiosity eventually got the best of me, so I asked Hayden why he always wants to know if we will stay up, and he responded...

'Because I'm just a kid and I need an adult to take care of me.'

Well put.