This IS a ONE-SHOT book!
Hey guys, you're probably here from my last book "We're A Family" (if you don't know what that is you might want to check it out!) Get ready to head on so many adventures with the Lloyd-Solo fam! Go ahead and open it up! Ho...
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Circa- 2013/14 "I...I don't need a bedtime...I'll try harder, I promise," pleads Christen hugging her pillow and staring up at both of her moms with the most innocent wide eyes. Hope and Carli share a soft look. Hope takes Christen's hand and rubs her thumb over her knuckles. Anxiety is radiating off the forward. "Mom, pl-please. I'm too big for one... I just can't sleep."
"Baby, this isn't a punishment," clarifies Hope, "and we know you're a big girl and don't need a bedtime. Mama and I want to help you, that's all. If you don't want bedtime, we can come up with a different plan."
"You aren't sleeping, hon. You've been staying up way too late for when you have to wake up. Don't you think having to be in bed at a certain time will help a little bit?" ask Carli. "I went out and got you some melatonin today. It's a lower dose than the kind that made you feel sick... I'd like you try it. If it makes you have headaches you can stop it."
"Will you try a bedtime for us? We'll try for a week and then we'll talk about it... how does that sound?"
Chris pulls at Hope to get her to shift so she'll hold her. Hope complies and wraps her up tight to help with her nerves. "When would bedtime be?"
"Hmmm-" Hope looks up at Carli for help.
"How about 10:30? Since it takes you a little while to fall asleep..."
"10:30?" repeats Christen. "Mama-"
"You don't have to be asleep. You will have to be in bed with your phone put away at that time. Just laying down trying to sleep."
"What if I don't go to bed?"
Hope rubs her back, "you'll get a consequence like when you break any other rule." Chris deflates and pouts. "You know when Mally has trouble remembering all of her stuff?" Christen nods. "She has to practice, right? Mama and I get her to pack her bag a few times to make sure she can do it right for next time. It's not a bad consequence hmm?"
Carli leans against the wall, "if you're worried about a spanking baby, we're not going to do that for you staying up past bedtime. Mom and I will talk about it, but it'll probably be if you stay up 20 minutes later you'll go to bed 20 minutes earlier. Or maybe you'll have to take a nap instead of being with your friends after practice?"
"Mama and I will figure that out, Chrissy," assures Hope. "Baby girl, a bedtime would only be to help you. You don't need to worry about messing up and getting in trouble."
"When I talk back though you get really mad at me..." Christen is so serious but Hope can't help but chuckle.
"Honey, being disrespectful is different than missing a bedtime. So is being mean or hitting your sisters."
"Baby, when you do those things you do get a spanking. Those affect other people. You hurt a lot of feelings by doing any of those things. Staying up past bedtime doesn't hurt anyone but you, love. You won't get a spanking for it, but if you're disrespectful to me or mom about it you will get one. Does that make sense?"
