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I hope you had a great rest because I didn’t. All I can think of is whether I should have one shot of espresso or two to wake me up this morning 😴 Maybe for the upcoming new year, my resolution will be to get to bed earlier, making it easier for me to wake up in the morning and depend less on coffee. Or I could just take a mid-day nap! I might try that today.

While we are on the topic of going to bed, I wonder what bedtime routines I should add. But enough about me. What bedtime routines have you added, especially on days when the little ones can become rowdy? Whether you already have a full stack list or are completely new to the idea of bedtime routines, I have a couple of things you can add to your list.

But before we continue this conversation, please go support the sponsor we love today. Here's a quick ad for them.

Recognizing the two sides of the bedtime coin: prevention and reaction. Under prevention, incorporating routines and schedules is crucial. Include daily tasks that help your child settle down before bed and establish lifelong habits such as brushing teeth or reading a book.

On the other side, reactions come into play when things don't go as planned 😅 We all experience those days when you arrive home late and are extra tired, and the kids suddenly get an extra burst of energy right before bed. It can be challenging to keep track of everyone's role in the routine, and you just need a moment to breathe.

It's essential to remember that reactions are essentially consequences—neither inherently positive nor negative but a response to an event. However, there's a distinction between reacting with empathy and respect versus reacting with yelling and frustration. We will focus on responses that come from a place of empathy and avoid reverting to frustration.

*Please give a gentle round of applause too…*