I’m not a very routine person. I certainly see the value in having a plan, but not in any sort of rigid, inflexible schedule. With one exception.

Bedtime.

We don’t really eat at the same time each day. We don’t do activities on any schedule. But, come 6:30pm, General Mommy is in the house, and you’d better fall in line. Daddy – that means you, too! J gets home pretty late, and often misses the masterpiece that is my bedtime ritual, but when he is, he’d better step aside! I’m actually quite surprised that he doesn’t drive around aimlessly from the hours of 6:30-7:30, as he knows I’ll be stern-faced, militant and constantly barking orders at anyone around me. It’s all about multi-tasking and efficiency. But he is just dying to see the girls, so I have to cut him some slack. Some.

M is picking her bedtime story and putting on PJs while I am changing Abs. Then they head to the bathroom, brush teeth, use potty, wash hands. Water cups are filled and special stuffed animals are in hand. We read the story. M gets into her bed, we do the 16 step handshake (yes, I’m totally serious) and I lay Abs down in her crib. Sound machine on. Done. I leave. Ok, so I might have to say “Goodnight, best friend” 5 or 6 times, but that’s beside the point…

There is absolutely no variation allowed in the this routine. I have been with the girls all day, and now I want to be with J or alone…This routine has been reviewed, tweaked and reevaluated to get to the point we’re at today. I can get the girls into bed, from start to finish, in 20 minutes or less.

However…my ‘wrench’, as I lovingly call him, doesn’t always see the value in my routine. If he comes home before bedtime, the routine changes…though I fight it tooth and nail. It goes something like this…

Up to bedroom…airplane ride!!!…”Oh, you didn’t brush your teeth?”…”Hide and seek? Sounds great!”…”You want 3 stories? Of course that’s ok!”…”So, did you brush your teeth?”…”L, did you have a bad day? You seem stressed.”…”No, great day, but the girls should have been asleep 20 minutes ago”…”So, girls, want to watch the Goodnight Show?”…pull on covers…”Wait, you need your pajamas on”…

And then the same argument from me…this is my work day, you are making my work day longer…no matter how much I love being with these girls all day, I want time without them…yada yada yada…

I guess I could just leave the room when the bedtime party begins…but I’m afraid they’d be up playing until 10!!