Bed time rituals help children and parents bond, what do you think?
By devijay78
@devijay78 (1573)
India
November 25, 2010 12:25pm CST
I have the habit of getting my daughter ready for bed by giving her a bath, massaging her body with herbal oil while she is sipping her milk and then put her to bed with a bed time story. This is one special time when both of us feel relaxed and happy. I think it helps us bond well. Whatever problems I faced that day would melt away.
When I was small, my mother used to sing to us and teach us songs which praised the various hindu gods and godesses. And teach us to pray as well. I would also sleep listening to songs and stories in the radio sometimes.
What other bedtime habits do you have?
4 responses
@hardworkinggurl (37062)
• United States
25 Nov 10
When both of my children were little, being that worked a great deal we had a daily ritual, with was dinner together, homework, I bathe each individually then it was a bed time story.
There after each one had a few minutes of my time as I had a boy and a girl I use to tell each one you know you are my favorite daughter, and to my son you know you are my favorite son. Each would reply Mom, I am your only daughter, the other Mom I am your only son.
My reply, yup that is why you are the favorite. LOL.. Not a single night would be different.
@devijay78 (1573)
• India
26 Nov 10
The santa does seem to be pretty flexible for his age and built
. I liked your usual avatar though. One of the reasons for always searching and responding to your discussions.
That was a very sweet bedtime ritual. I know how children, no matter what happens the whole day, would wait for the night to come to spend some time with their parents relaxing. I would always look forward to my mom telling me stories and singing to me at nights and sleeping beside me. I still feel happy whenever I think about it.
And my daughter loves the massage and the bed time stories. She relaxes and falls asleep withing almost 15 to 20 minutes even when I am massaging.
. I liked your usual avatar though. One of the reasons for always searching and responding to your discussions.
That was a very sweet bedtime ritual. I know how children, no matter what happens the whole day, would wait for the night to come to spend some time with their parents relaxing. I would always look forward to my mom telling me stories and singing to me at nights and sleeping beside me. I still feel happy whenever I think about it.
And my daughter loves the massage and the bed time stories. She relaxes and falls asleep withing almost 15 to 20 minutes even when I am massaging.@hardworkinggurl (37062)
• United States
26 Nov 10
LOL, I experimented with a few for the last 3 days and did not like any of them, so I returned back to my little girl as I do like her the best. LOL
Sounds like you are very nurturing with your little girl, this is very important as when she becomes older she will have that special bonding with you and that is really important.
@devijay78 (1573)
• India
27 Nov 10
I like your little girl too. Especially the hair, mouth and tongue. Good to see that you are back to your old avatar.
My daughter is very special to me since I believe that she is god given. I went through a lot and all the time I kept telling myself that I should stay alive and fight just for her. She is the reason I am sane now. God bless her.
. Good to see that you are back to your old avatar.
My daughter is very special to me since I believe that she is god given. I went through a lot and all the time I kept telling myself that I should stay alive and fight just for her. She is the reason I am sane now. God bless her.
@toniganzon (77227)
• Philippines
26 Nov 10
There was a time when I stayed away from my son for almost 6 months because I had to take an exam. He was very close with his father then, but when we were together again, I tried to develop bedtime rituals just for the two of us and it bonded us until now. I would lie next to him, read him stories, would sing lullabies and then just before he drifts off to sleep we rub each other's nose. He doesn't rub nose with his father only with me. Now my son and I are closer than before and nobody could break that bond between us!
@devijay78 (1573)
• India
26 Nov 10
It would have been very difficult for you to leave your son and stay apart for so long. I could not stay away from my daughter for just a week when I had eye infection. And she used to cry every day for me. My heart used to feel so heavy when I heard her crying on the phone.
Am happy to hear that all is well in your house now. My daughter too would always like me to be with her at bed time. She would not do such things with my husband nor anyone else. I guess it is a part of the mother-daughter relationship.
Am happy to hear that all is well in your house now. My daughter too would always like me to be with her at bed time. She would not do such things with my husband nor anyone else. I guess it is a part of the mother-daughter relationship.
@shia88 (4570)
• Malaysia
26 Nov 10
Hi,
I can't remember well how is my bedtime with my mother.
But for my son, we have a bedtime habit...wash clean both legs and
hands, brush our teeth and change to Pj.
Then I will make milk for him to drink,followed by reading bedtime
stories.
I used to sing some nursery rhymes for my son when he was small,but now
only once a while , we will sing together. Most of the time, we will
read story books before goes to bed.
@devijay78 (1573)
• India
26 Nov 10
Same here with me and my daughter. My daughter sings devotional songs with me too. But we include reading fairytales as well as a body massage. It helps both of us relax.
@fl0rencia (414)
• Philippines
26 Nov 10
That is so sweet. Your child is lucky to have a mom as caring and thoughtful as you are. Me and my mom doesn't have bedtime rituals. When I was a kid, we would just usually talk about what happened the entire day. We would talk for long hours. That's just what we do because my mom doesn't want to go out much. She just want to stay at home. Do some chores and then do her favorite indoor games. But we don't play much together.
@devijay78 (1573)
• India
26 Nov 10
My mom never used to talk about what happened that day for us nor for her. I do miss such talks actually. Even though I encourage my daughter to talk about her day at school, she does very little of it. Instead she prefers to sing the songs taught to her at school. I guess she would change as she grows.
As the person grows, all these will slowly stop too. But we need to do things differently to bond, don't you think? It would be different when we are adults. Me and my mother cook together nowadays, or simply chat for sometime. I do take her out once in a while.
