Posted by Rachel Balducci in Family on Monday, June 30, 2008 2:58 PM
Tonight is the same as every other night.
I feed baby Henry, and just as he is about to doze off, I stand up to bring him to his room. I hesitate for a moment, because I know what I need to do. Will they miss this ritual, I wonder, if we skip tonight, just this once? If instead of all this fuss, I bring the baby straight to his crib?
But I settle for the fuss and walk out to my husband and four older boys.
As with every other evening, I bring Henry to Daddy for a goodnight kiss. Then I bring him to his big brothers who always, every single time, stop what they are doing to shower him with kisses and hugs and sweet words of love.
“Am I looking at the cutest baby in the world,” asks six-year-old Augie as he rubs Henry’s feet between his hands.
“For my birthday,” asks nine-year-old Elliott, “can Henry sleep in my bed?”
Ethan, 11, walks over and kisses Henry on the top of the head. Then I bring the baby to eight-year-old Charlie, who leans up and rubs his cheek against Henry’s.
Every night it is the same thing – I’m tempted to skip the fuss. Every night, I’m glad that I don’t.
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This is priceless! Sometimes it’s just easier to throw them all in bed, but the rituals like these are full of love, bonding, and memories. Thanks for the inspiration!
It is these rituals that are the strands that one uses to weave a tightly knit loving family. A finely woven tapestry rich in color and texture is sure to be yours to treasure!
Just found your post and had to respond. Our evening ritual is similar. However, we are bad, we watch a tv program first (in Mommy and Daddy’s bed). I then scoop up my 21 month old have Daddy kiss her good night and then her 3 1/2 year old brother,Thomas. Thomas will not let me skip any part of our ritual.
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