Inch by inch she gets what she wants for the bedtime routine. We wonder if there are any books or a compilation of experiences from other parents. Since the beginning we gave in more territory to the “enemy”: stay up later, leave the door open, sing more songs, stay with me.
Starting a while ago I would offer to pray with her, and she would say “no thank you”. After a few short prayers at bedtime, and regular short prayers before the meals, she started to ask regularly: “pray with me!”, because she knows this one request I won’t say no to, no matter how tired or how late it is.
Today at nap time, as I sat to work in the her room while she fell asleep, she said “I’m going to pray!” Then she started: “dear God, thank you for this good day. Thank you for swimming, thank you for the work daddy does, and please help me get out of the pool when mommy says it’s time”. She went on and on, praying like a grown up, with complete sentences and valid reasons. I wish I had recorded her. There are days when we wonder if we are good enough parents… but on days like this I think she’ll be alright.