Looks like I can start to go out during the nights again because Gavin has found himself a very capable bedtime caregiver who is not only able to read to him but also settle him nicely into slumberland.
This wonderful caregiver is none other than his DADDY!
I recently took on a new assignment which requires me to work on some nights away from home. Since I accepted the job, I was fretting about Gavin’s bedtime routine because I have always been the one who puts him to bed since he was born. The maid has made him sleep once or twice only because I was ill but she can no longer do the job now with bedtime reading involved.
Daddy graciously volunteered to look after him for those evenings that I’ll be away and last night was the first. I gave him specific instructions and was half worried Gavin would still be up by the time I reach home, thus affecting his sleeping hours. In between my work, I kept checking my cell phone but it was exceptionally quiet. Just when I was packing up to leave, I found a SMS text message from daddy saying:
Actually it was nice and fun to spend time with boy. He’s sleeping now. I read all five books to him!
I was impressed! Especially because I was expecting the both of them to roll and jump around on the bed as they do usually instead of sleeping. The fact that Daddy sucessfully put him to bed means I could take my time to drive home, have a relaxing shower and find something to eat and drink later.
This is really nice for a change. Gavin and his daddy should really spend more quality hours like this and I could do with more free time at night. Psst…tonight can repeat again Daddy? Heehee.
Cool stuff..! what a good daddy..!
Comment by Mama Bok — Tue, 25 Jul 2006 @ 12:51 pm
Okay, I’m feeling a little guilty now. I’ve never been the one to tuck in the kids. Since my hubby’s doing such a good job, I’ve never offered to relieve his duties. In fact, I think it feels weird doing it. But I should at least give it a go at it, huh?
Comment by earthember — Tue, 25 Jul 2006 @ 12:53 pm
Hey! I’m envious!
I tried asking hubby to tug Zara in.. and always.. he ends up sleeping first.. and Zara screaming her lungs off.. *sigh*
Comment by zara's mama — Tue, 25 Jul 2006 @ 2:14 pm
Well done, Daddy!:)
Hubby reads to Damien too. Sometimes i ‘purposely’ take a longer shower so that the daddy can ‘bond longer with the boy’, meaning the boy would be fast asleep by the time i am done lah..haha…;p
Comment by Eileen — Tue, 25 Jul 2006 @ 4:12 pm
Now that he has finished all five books, does that mean you got to buy more books???
Comment by domestic rat — Tue, 25 Jul 2006 @ 9:12 pm
MB: He’s usually quite hands on with the child. But I was surprised he managed to settle Gavin so well.
ee: Yeah, you might like to try. I like bedtime routines very much. I think kids usually enjoy the time with the parent/caregiver tremendously.
ZM: He sleeps first? Must be too tired lah.
Eileen: You good leh. Trained your hubby to do the job. For me cannot cos if I’m around, the boy will look for me. I think I never start early that’s why.
DR: Hahaha…no lah. Kids like repeats. They’ll repeat books, stories, movies, programmes without getting tired of them. We can read the 5 books for awhile until new ones are introduced.
Comment by sesame — Wed, 26 Jul 2006 @ 8:57 am
My DH actually does a better job in reading to Nikita at bedtime because of his patience. His reading style and mine are totally different, and the choice of books he choose are different from mine too, so Nikita actually benefits from it because she gets to read a wider variety of books. So, you might want to encourage your hubby to continue to read to Gavin.
Comment by crazymommy — Wed, 26 Jul 2006 @ 12:04 pm
wow…cool…now you can go and do your work in peace, without having to worry about Gavin……
Comment by Jan (My lovely Rays) — Wed, 26 Jul 2006 @ 12:19 pm
Well Done, Daddy!
That reminds me of my dad. At least once a week he put me to bed. It was fun!
But I don’t think it was a success since mom complained a lot at that time.
miss mom and dad!
Comment by la agua fresca - back to work! — Wed, 26 Jul 2006 @ 5:42 pm
CM: I certainly will if he doesn’t mind. The thing is, if I’m around, he’ll push it to me.
Jan: Ya, I hope it’ll continue well.
la aqua: Sounds like you’re far away from home?
Comment by sesame — Wed, 26 Jul 2006 @ 8:11 pm
I love bedtime too, as long as it’s not rushed. Danny can do the job too, since Sara’s been trained to go down on her own after bedtime stories are over with. Danny is a lot more patient and explains a lot more to her, but that’s because he doesn’t do it often. I do try to encourage it though, because it’s a great time to bond.
Comment by Hsin — Fri, 28 Jul 2006 @ 12:21 am
Hsin: Good that you and Danny occasionally take turns. Like crazymom said, Sara can get exposed to different reading ways.
Comment by sesame — Fri, 28 Jul 2006 @ 3:32 pm
Sounds great. I totally support daddy contributions to parenting!
Comment by ainsley — Sun, 30 Jul 2006 @ 10:59 pm