One of my favorite things about our nighttime routine is getting to hang out with CJ after the littles go to bed. Sure, we are together all day, but don’t REALLY get much quality time until after 8 pm when things are quiet in the house. Daddy is usually at work then, so I get CJ all to myself! 😊

At 9 pm sharp it’s almost as though an internal clock kicks in and SUDDENLY after eating two hamburgers, some cheese balls, and three pretzels rods for dinner, CJ is starving. According to him it’s the kind of starving that could kill a man. Only instead of directly asking for food, as he does with most things, says “Man, I wish it wasn’t so late so I could have a snack before bed.” To which I reply something along the lines of, “I wish your words were in the form of a question I could answer!” Without fail, he stubbornly doesn’t ask the question and within fifteen minutes is crawling into whatever room I am in telling me he doesn’t have much time left. Soon he will starve to death. A bowl of crackers saves his life every night. Crisis averted.

After his belly is full we either spend some time watching tv, playing, or talking about things that are on his mind. We really enjoy Ellen’s Game of Games or LEGO Masters when they are on! If it’s talking he prefers, the random questions begin. Who do you love most in the house, mommy? Would you rather be caught in a tsunami or tornado? If we had to go live on a beach in a tent, could we bring Gibbs with us? When are we going to visit Richie in Las Vegas? The list goes on and on.

After what sometimes feels like an eternity, and after his nightly shower, we either settle into my bed or I bring him to his. Bedtime usually isn’t early when daddy isn’t home. 😬 I am not proud of that, but that’s just the way things are right now. Before bed is when CJ confides in me. He shares with me anything that is on his mind. Lately it’s mostly been about how he misses school, his friends, his teacher, and how life used to be (I hear ya kid. I feel the same.). He wants to be able to play with his cousins and see his grandparents. He understands none of that is safe right now, but longs for those familiar interactions.

Sometimes he reads for a few minutes and sometimes he passes right out on his Thor pillow. We never go to bed without a hug and an I love you, and always promise to see each other in the morning. Occasionally he will throw in a, “you smell like poo mommy” before I leave the room. He sure knows how to make me feel good.

CJ is seven and I know one day, I hope not soon, our nightly routine will look and sound different. Until then, I will cherish these moments with my boy. They are times I will never be able to get back.