The Life

I rock my babies to sleep.

rockmybabies

I rock my babies to sleep.

There. I said it. I rock my babies to sleep. If I am not physically rocking them, I stay with them. Hold them, sing to them, rub their backs. I am not ruining them. I am not creating needy monsters. I am creating a bond with them. A place of comfort they can count on every night.

And I don’t care if you agree with my decision or not.

 There is so much to be read on the rights and wrongs of parenting. Do this, don’t do that. Your head will spin. No matter what the topic, there will always be people doing things differently. Everyone believing their way is the best way.  Well, I believe in rocking my babies to sleep. I will not say that it is the best way to do it. But it is the best way for us.

I have actually been asked “but then you’re stuck doing that every night?”.  Well yes, I am.  I’m stuck having 10-15 minutes of quiet, peaceful alone time with each of my kids.

The days are long and sometimes full of arguments, tantrums and time-outs. Bedtime is a time of reflection on the day. A time were Joey has his last bottle, laying in my arms. Knowing that I am right there next to him. A time where he is peaceful and calm and I get to just stare at the child that I created.  Watching his little chest rise and fall with each sleepy breath that he takes.

It is a time to lay next to Mini in her bed and rub her back. Listen to relaxing music and whisper to each other in the dimly lit room. It is when we discuss what happened over the course of the day, and what the plans are for tomorrow. It is when she really opens up and tells me stories that she put off telling me all day. It is the time that she knows she has my undivided attention.

I refuse to believe that I am spoiling my children. If anything, I am the one being spoiled. Sooner than I would like to imagine my children will shout goodnight and run to their rooms to read, or call a friend.  Maybe pick out their outfit for school the next day. They won’t need me to rub their backs, kiss their lips, scare away monsters and tuck them in.

I already know how much I will miss these moments. So for now I will rock them. And hold them. And I will lay with them until they fall asleep. I will let my babies be exactly what they are.  My babies.

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6 Comments

  • Reply
    Nancy Gambino
    October 23, 2014 at 8:31 am

    You should never feel you have to explain how you bring your children up after all their your kids and you have to do what’s right for you. Everyone chooses different ways. If that’s what right for you then so be it!

  • Reply
    Patti Hagans
    October 23, 2014 at 8:58 am

    I did the same and my kids turned out “great”!

  • Reply
    C Harmon
    October 23, 2015 at 10:42 pm

    Love! Mine are 6 and almost 4 now and they both still sleep in my room. I almost didn’t get to have them and I feel blessed every single day that they want to be close with me. Like you said someday they will run off to do their own thing and I will terribly miss these moments with them.

    • Reply
      Minismama
      October 25, 2015 at 2:24 pm

      I remind myself everyday, especially when I start to get stressed…”I will miss them when they go out on their own.” I’m with ya. 🙂

  • Reply
    Lindsay
    October 24, 2015 at 5:44 pm

    Thank you for this. My daughter will be 3 next week and that first year of rocking seems miles away. I cherished it as you do and definitely have not experienced the behavioral backlash which I was promised. Sometimes great-grandma knows something more than the doctor in the book. You’re doing a great job mom. ❤️

    • Reply
      Minismama
      October 25, 2015 at 10:36 am

      I am a big believer in doing what’s best for me :). And I miss it too 🙁

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