My Oasis
When I began the new family schedule I had to re-think bedtime. Gleek and Patches were both having a terrible time staying in bed. They both were afraid of nightmares. To solve the problem I began tucking them into bed and then sitting in the hallway. There is one spot where they can both see me while lying down in bed. At first I spent lots of time asking them not to talk, telling them to lie back down, and fetching things for them. But they quickly settled into the routine. Now it is very common for both of them to be asleep within minutes of laying down in bed.
My first intention was to sit in the hall nightly until the bad dreams subsided. Then I was going to gradually wean them from that need so that I could go do other things. But I’ve discovered that I really enjoy sitting there with my laptop while my kids drift off to sleep. It is a quiet space at the end of a busy day. During that time I read forums, surf blogs, or just write. Lately I’ve found myself looking forward to my time sitting in the hallway. It is a nice change because prior to this I had to finish bedtime before I could have time for myself. Now I’ve blended the two in a way that works.
So here I sit, listening to the soft breathing of sleeping children. In moments like this I can remember how wonderful my life is and how blessed I am to have it. Tomorrow there will be things to do again, but for tonight all the things are done. Tonight I have a little space of time that is mine. I have a little oasis in which business and housework are not allowed. I love having this time.