Bedtime is matter of routine at our house. As soon as the clock strikes 7:30 (or sooner if the two toddlers at our house start to show signs of tiredness) we march upstairs for a bath, put on PJs and settle down for a quick 20 minutes video (lately Bear in the Big Blue House or Henry’s Amazing Animals). Then both kids grab their cups and lay down for a story. My 2-year-old usually falls right to sleep, but my 4-year-old sometimes fights it. Last night was just the case. I moved my daughter to her crib then said good night to my son and walked downstairs to say good night to my husband. Then I heard the clomping of feet down the stairs.Now, what to do? It was the first home game for the Diamondbacks. We want to instill a sense of loyalty to the home teams to our son, but it was also 8:45 p.m. My first instinct was to say, "Back upstairs." But then I took a step back. He had taken a long nap in the afternoon at grandma’s. He really wasn’t ready for sleep. And besides, what a fun moment for all of us to sit and watch the game together. So my 4-year-old crawled up on his daddy’s lap and cuddled for the last two innings of a great game. We all enjoyed it… and he even cheered when a home run clinched the game. Now that’s a moment I’ll always remember. And afterward, everyone crawled into their own beds for a good night’s sleep.
