A couple weeks ago, Veronica said “Mommy, I don’t know how to turn off the water.”
I had been messing on my computer and hadn’t been paying attention. She was getting ready for bed. There is a process.
I drag her kicking and resisting to begin the process
get naked
use the toilet
floss teeth
brush teeth
get in shower
wash face
wash body
wash hair
turn off water
dry off with towel
take towel to bedroom
don pajamas
don socks
read story
turn on nightlight
turn off overhead light
turn on sonos music
parent sits with Veronica until she falls asleep
THIS IS EXHAUSTING
this has been the bedtime routine for basically her entire life.
when she asked me how to turn off the water, she surprised me. I had left her on the toilet portion of the ritual.
She went forward without me and did all the rest.
That was the biggest change to me. She had truly independently taken on this process.
it made me cry a little.
And it rocked my world. It seems that we might have 2 extra hours free in an evening.
This is a game changer