Bedtime and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

I have noted in previous blogs that I am a type A, perfectionistic person with OCD tendencies (feeling sorry for my hubby yet:).  My children, oh dear Lord, have inherited some of this, and yes, all three of them.  One area in our lives where this manifests itself is bedtime.  Now, it is nothing like it used to be.  If you go back about three years ago you can read my blog all about Kayla and her weird bedtime rituals.  It's a good laugh for sure.

However, bedtime at our house is anything but 'normal'.  Preston, being only one year old, has only started manifesting what I will call 'the weirdness'.  Of course, his have much to do with food items.  However, when it comes to bedtime, he needs to kiss and hug each member of the family (this is a good thing) and then yells 'bye bye' the entire way to bed.  He has to have all three of his stuffed animals in bed with him, and they are all black in color.  He will not tolerate an animal that is not black in his bed with him.  He also has to have his binky and his blue blankie (which goes everywhere with him, because he is basically Linus from the Peanuts).  He sleeps on a regular pillow with a blanket over him.  Not too weird yet.....just keep reading.....

Kayla and Lydia both have to go potty right before entering the bedroom, even if they have just gone five minutes prior, every drop of pee must be out of their bodies before they will lie in bed.  Then we all pray (a good thing).  In bed with them, they must have a myriad, by myriad I mean like ten, animals with them. Lydia sleeps with a gigantic red dog and Kayla sleeps with an equally gigantic Scooby dog.  They must have a  sippy cup of water with them in bed, which recently must include ice cubes for some reason.  Rarely do they drink the water, but still it must be there.  They sleep all night long to the relaxing sound of dogs barking on a CD to the tune of 'The Twelve Days of Christmas'.  This is their choosing, I am not sure why.

Then, before I leave the room, we must say 'the weird nighttime bantor'.  It goes something like this:
Kayla:  "Did you lock it?" - referring to the door, which I don't lock
Mommy:  "Yes"  (usually rolling my eyes)
Kayla:  "I love you."
Mommy: "I love you too."
Kayla:  "I love you again."
Mommy:  "I love you again too."
Kayla: "Good night."
Mommy:  "Good night."
Lydia's gets even weirder:
Lydia: "Did you lock it?"
Mommy:  "Yes"
Lydia:  "Thank you."
Mommy:  "Your welcome."
Lydia:  "I love you."
Mommy:  "I love you too."
Lydia:  "Don't forget your camera"
Mommy:  "Thank you"

And this ends 'still slightly weird' bedtime at our house.