Miya got a tent for her birthday this year. Dad set it up last night despite the rain clouds. After eating a late supper outside after a very BUSY day and busy week; meaning the girls are already behind on sleep, dad made their day by saying they could sleep in their tent. ALONE! ! Mom wasn't quite ready for that. I had kept earlier requests at bay, however tonight I lost the battle. After shrieking and jumping around like only little girls can do they ran upstairs to pack up their room; to move it to their tent of course! It was decided that they could each take 3 babies, 3 books, blankie/shaky, and the most important thing, a flashlight. After getting the tent 'situated', prayers said, and good nights to mom and dad, dad said they could go to sleep whenever they wanted. The mommy in me objected and said 9:30. Once it escaped my mouth I knew I made a mistake for a couple reasons. 1. Dad say they could stay up~I can not overrule dad in front of the girls. That required an apology. 2. I said 9:30 with hopes they would be sleeping by 10:30. At that point I realized I was teaching my children to disobey by not holding them accountable to my words. You see, I have allowed a bad bed-time habit to form. When tucking them in I say "no talking tonight, it's late and you need to go right to sleep", full well knowing they will talk for 30min at the least. By allowing them to talk when I said no talking, I am allowing them to think they don't have to obey mom with this little thing of going to sleep. Yes, it is little and I truly don't mind them talking for a bit. I actually LOVE listening to them chatter about the silliest things. So why do I say 'no talking'? I don't know. But I need to stop, because I am setting a terrible example. They have to obey, just as I'm expected to obey my heavenly father. If I allow a little slip with myself, I know how quickly that slip will lead to another 'little slip', and another, and another until I'm deep in my sin. It's a slow fade. So it's time for me to change my words at bedtime. You can talk for 15 min and then it's time for sleep may be a place to start don't you think? ?
Back to the tent. Jeff and I checked on them a few times. Miya kept a close watch on the shadows outside of the tent and knew when Jeff was around. Once darkness fell the flashlights turned on which was a whole new thing for them to play. I think they fell asleep between 10:30 and 11:00 which is pretty normal for them lately. Jeff and I both figured the girls would be inside just after dark. NOPE they slept outside all night and didn't wake up till 8:00am. They had tons of fun and slept great. I asked how late they stayed up, "weally, weally late momma" was Jayden's response. Miya answered with "till the lightening bugs came out".
Cashed Out! !
Miya got a tent for her birthday this year. Dad set it up last night despite the rain clouds. After eating a late supper outside after a very BUSY day and busy week; meaning the girls are already behind on sleep, dad made their day by saying they could sleep in their tent. ALONE! ! Mom wasn't quite ready for that. I had kept earlier requests at bay, however tonight I lost the battle. After shrieking and jumping around like only little girls can do they ran upstairs to pack up their room; to move it to their tent of course! It was decided that they could each take 3 babies, 3 books, blankie/shaky, and the most important thing, a flashlight. After getting the tent 'situated', prayers said, and good nights to mom and dad, dad said they could go to sleep whenever they wanted. The mommy in me objected and said 9:30. Once it escaped my mouth I knew I made a mistake for a couple reasons. 1. Dad say they could stay up~I can not overrule dad in front of the girls. That required an apology. 2. I said 9:30 with hopes they would be sleeping by 10:30. At that point I realized I was teaching my children to disobey by not holding them accountable to my words. You see, I have allowed a bad bed-time habit to form. When tucking them in I say "no talking tonight, it's late and you need to go right to sleep", full well knowing they will talk for 30min at the least. By allowing them to talk when I said no talking, I am allowing them to think they don't have to obey mom with this little thing of going to sleep. Yes, it is little and I truly don't mind them talking for a bit. I actually LOVE listening to them chatter about the silliest things. So why do I say 'no talking'? I don't know. But I need to stop, because I am setting a terrible example. They have to obey, just as I'm expected to obey my heavenly father. If I allow a little slip with myself, I know how quickly that slip will lead to another 'little slip', and another, and another until I'm deep in my sin. It's a slow fade. So it's time for me to change my words at bedtime. You can talk for 15 min and then it's time for sleep may be a place to start don't you think? ?
Back to the tent. Jeff and I checked on them a few times. Miya kept a close watch on the shadows outside of the tent and knew when Jeff was around. Once darkness fell the flashlights turned on which was a whole new thing for them to play. I think they fell asleep between 10:30 and 11:00 which is pretty normal for them lately. Jeff and I both figured the girls would be inside just after dark. NOPE they slept outside all night and didn't wake up till 8:00am. They had tons of fun and slept great. I asked how late they stayed up, "weally, weally late momma" was Jayden's response. Miya answered with "till the lightening bugs came out".
Cashed Out! !
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