by Carolyn Robertson posted in Parenting

If you are a parent, you've probably had one of those days -- or maybe 100 of them -- when you've found yourself watching the clock, counting down the seconds until it's time for your kids to go to bed. Maybe they haven't stopped fighting, or maybe they've driven you a little nuts with a million questions, or maybe you're in the middle of potty training (enough said). Whatever the reason, bedtime couldn't come soon enough.
Eventually, the hours-long bedtime routine is over and your little angels are tucked away in their beds. You do the dishes, tidy the clutter, maybe watch a quick show on Netflix, and then stumble into bed and finally drift off to sleep.
And not long after that, you hear it: the unmistakable sound of tiny feet padding down the hallway toward you. Or, even more terrifying, you suddenly open your eyes to find your child wide awake and standing beside your bed, staring at you. It doesn't matter how many times that happens, it always comes as a shock. "Mom," they'll say, tugging on your arm at 3 a.m. "I feel like I wore the wrong pajamas to bed."
Or maybe, "Teddy fell off the bed and now she needs a Band-Aid."
Or, "I had a dream you were a dragon."
Or, "Can I have noodles with cheese for lunch tomorrow""
Or, my personal favorite: "I think it's actually daytime now. Can you check""
These middle of the night conversations with kids are often confusing...