A Nighttime Routine
“Pull Quotes” of a 4 Year Old: Weeks 37-38
When our daughter was a baby, my wife and I decided to keep a nighttime routine for her. It has, of course, evolved from the days of us sitting in a rocking chair with her after her bottle. But there’s the same steps (however long they take on a given night): brush teeth, potty if need be, then into bed for a few books/stories/poems, and a couple songs before lights out.
Obviously there are nights when this varies in real time from start to finish. Some nights things go smoothly because she’s actually tired. Other nights things are rough because she’s really tired. And occasionally, mommy and daddy are out and we only kiss her goodnight when we get home.
I know this will still change as she grows, but it’s nice to snug up in her bed for a little and enjoy some downtime before she goes off to dream wild things.
→ ICMYI: catch up on “Pull Quotes” with the full list below.
Enjoy these “Pull Quotes” from weeks past:
Monday, Sept 10
“You scared me like a ghost.”
Tuesday, Sept 11
“Bon annateet!” (bon appétit)
Wednesday, Sept 12
“I can say it: humahuma nukanuka ah puah.” (humuhumunukunukuapua’a — Hawaii’s state fish)
Thursday, Sept 13
Daughter: Daddy, why did the chicken cross the house? Daddy: Why? Daughter: Because he wanted to get to his family.
Friday, Sept 14
“Written by [author] Hernandez… ‘The Floppy Chicken.’ The artist drew this.. the kids say ‘drew grass, drew grass,’ so they drew grass. The artist drew grass. And!…um, the… clouds say, I mean the… flowers say ‘make rain, make rain,’ so the artist made rain. And the rain said, ‘make… make rainbow, make rainbow,’ so they make rainbow. And the rainbow said, ‘make night, make night,’ and then the artist drew night. And then, and the arti... and the night said ‘drew stars, drew stars,’ and the star said, ‘Hold my hand.’ The end.”
Saturday, Sept 15
“I always want to not get poison ivy.”
Sunday, Sept 16
“I will lead you.”
Monday, Sept 17
“Daddy my favorite part of the fireworks was the big finale.”
Tuesday, Sept 18
“It’s peanut butter belly time.”
Wednesday, Sept 19
“Now get out of my room before you fart.”
Thursday, Sept 20
Daughter: Can I come give you a hug? Daddy: Oh yes. I always want to hug you. Daughter: You can hug me whenever you want.
Friday, Sept 21
“We’re going to be Team Hernandez.”
Saturday, Sept 22
“We’re looking at beautiful things. I’m going to bring it up to you so you can see it.”
Sunday, Sept 23
Daughter: Mommy, remember when we used to catch kisses and put them on your face? Mommy: Yes. Daughter: Okay, I’m gonna blow one to you. You ready?
Most nights, wife goes to bed shortly after this. I stay awake to write, read, watch TV or play Candy Crush into the night. Then, about two or four hours after she’s fallen asleep, my favorite part of our daughter’s nighttime routine happens. It doesn’t happen every night, but maybe every other.
I’ll be sitting in the living room or just off to bed and my daughter will come find me, whispering “Daddy.” (A few times this startles the living daylights out of me and I’ll shout some guttural sound before regaining my composure.) She will have sleepy eyes and shield her face from the light as she tells me some reason she needs me: “I need you to cover me.” “I think there’s a bug in my bed.” “I need some water.”
The excuse doesn’t matter. I’ll follow her or sometimes carry her back to bed. I tuck her in with some soft words of love and kiss her head. I tell her to come wake me in the morning and usually give her something to look forward to. “Tomorrow’s pajama day,” “We’ll go on a special trip to Starbucks,” or “It’s a home day!”
However she was before bedtime (miserable or not), that special part of the night often makes my day. I’m reminded of how precious our bond is. I’m reminded of how I’d wake my little brother as a kid and convince him to go to the bathroom with me because I was scared. (His vengeance has come.) And I’m reminded how often I would be up alone at night and desperately lonely—and I’m thankful I no longer have to fear those monsters. I’m the one who slays them now.
If you’re happy and you know it, and you really wanna show it… 👏🏽
Editor’s post-script: Read the next in this series below:Proud ParentsYou may also enjoy these night stories:
Full “Pull Quotes” of a 4 Year Old list:
😀 A Personality (Weeks 1-2) 😱 A Flair for the Dramatic (3-4) 👹 An Active Imagination (5-6) 🙋🏻 A Growing Independence (7-8) 🏡 A Happy Homelife (9-10) 💝 A Sweet Heart (11-12) 👀 Her Mother’s Eyes (13-14) 🚀 A Sense of Adventure (15-16) 💃 A Kick in Her Step (17-18) 🎤 A Song on Her Lips (19-20) 🌟 A Star in the Making (21-22) 🌀 A Swirl in Her Hair (23-24) 👂🏼 An Ear for Language (25-26) 😏 Her Father’s Smirk (27-28) 💪 A Strong Will (29-30) 💭 A Good Memory (31–32) 💁🏽 Hair Down to There (33-34) 😂 A Great Laugh (35-36)