:-)

My husband and I have never been sticklers for bedtime routines. As a result, for years, we had to finagle our son to bed by letting him come watch t.v. with us until he went to sleep. Gary would then carry James to bed. (I always wondered if James was dismayed to find himself in his own bed every morning.) This was okay until Gary went away for almost six months. Then I was the one who had to lug the four year old who was as big as a six year old across the house to his bed. After one attempt, I left him there.

Gary finally got James into a good routine. It started with allowing him to watch t.v. with us until a set time. At that time, Gary would carry James, piggyback style, to his room and get him to go to sleep. Pretty soon we were able to just say bedtime, and James would go peacefully to his own bed without t.v. time. I would be enjoying the peace, quiet and extra space when the sound of little feet would come scurrying into my room. James decided he needed a kiss.

This was fine by me. No work for me, Gary doing all the work. Lately, however, James began asking me to put him to bed. Somewhere along the way, he learned about bedtime stories and nursery rhymes. (Who taught him about this? I have my suspicions.)

Yesterday, he wanted me to sing him 5 songs. I told him one. He said, "Four!" So now he's a negotiator?? I got it wheedled down to two songs, but only with the promise of four songs the next night.

So, tonight, I had to sing four songs. If you have been here before, you may have read about my son's speech issues. It is funny to hear him tell me which songs he wants. He has his own names for each one. My favorite is "Wicky Whacky Picky Packy." Can you tell what that is? It's "Nick Nack Paddy Whack," better known as "This Old Man." When we sing these songs, I like to change up the rhymes from time to time. He hates it. He makes me re-sing it the correct way.

The next element to my son's routine is saying, "Goodnight." I have to say, "Goodnight" and give him a kiss. Then I have to give him a hug. The final step used to be a high-five. In his effort to delay his bedtime, James has changed up the Goodnight choreography. It goes like this:

• Goodnight, James, I love you.
• I love you, too, Mommy
• Kiss
• Hug
• Fists
• Touch index fingers and say, "Doot." (Something from my childhood.)
• Touch 2 fingers and repeat the above.
• High-Five

On the inside I am laughing because I predicted that tonight he was going to add three fingers. I was correct. I told him that High-Five was enough, and he conceded.

The best part about tonight was when I was leaving his room. Now remember, this is the boy who didn't say anything but nonesense even at age 3. I was walking out of the room and turning off the light when I heard James say, "Mom, your hilarious."

Suddenly it was all worth it.