The Family Bed

We've always had the kids in bed with us from birth until somewhere between 2-5yrs old. Usually it is the birth of a younger sibling that will initiate the transition of the older child moving to a different sleep location. Good thing about a large family is that no one is EVER sleeping alone! If they can't sleep in bed with us, they will go find a sibling to share sleep with and feel very comforted and satisfied doing so. The children are split up in 3 bedrooms but it is not uncommon to find them all huddled in one room with make shift beds all over the floor when it's sleep time. I have a hard time saying no to this because, well, this is what we do and it works for us. Sleep time seems to be bonding time for the children. They can go at it all day roughing each other up and claiming to care nothing for each other but then bed time comes and all of a sudden they can't live without each other :)

Since Ivan's been gone we decided we would all sleep in mommy's room and take turns every night with who got to sleep in the bed. First night the girls were in the bed, second night the boys and we keep rotating this way. They have enjoyed it SO much! One night I played music and we all just quietly listened for about 2 hours before they started dropping off one by one into sleep land. It's been such a blessing, especially for the older children who hardly ever have the opportunity to climb in bed with mommy and daddy because they're HUGE now and really don't fit LOL

Eric (11) was at a birthday party/sleepover last night and Julie (10) and Jason (8) decided they wanted to sleep in the boys room, of course because they wanted to stay up late and talk, but that's ok, so I had Justus (1) Seraphina (4) and Lucius (5) in bed with me. This meant I basically slept on about 8 inches of space when it seems my body now needs at least 3 times that much! Even still, it was such a blessing to have them so close :) I've learned this week that Lucius talks A LOT in his sleep! He seems to be talking to Eric mostly. So cute. And the boys seem to rotate into a sideways position every night while the girls stay nice and straight :)

I do miss hubby though, and will be overjoyed when I have him stealing my blankets again.