Nothing better than watching our children sleep peacefully. Independent of our circumstance there is nothing more settling, or prettier, than a child at peace. A day of happiness and good health or one where a child has battled pain or a fever, one filled with challenges at school or one where we’ve simply had a bad day at work. Doesn’t really matter what’s stirring or what’s not, there is something precious we all discover once we become parents–we can stare at our children endlessly while they rest. It can provide a sense of ease unmatched elsewhere in our lives.
Slipping back into the room to catch a glimpse of our children enjoying a peaceful rest is truly one of life’s greatest gifts.
Years ago an experienced father said to me, “Don’t let a single night go by where the last thing you do before heading off to bed isn’t kissing your kids goodnight one more time.” I took the advice. The ritual has perhaps compounded the obvious truth ~ nothing better than witnessing the beauty of our children at peace. Sleep is such a treasure.
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Isabelle says
My husband always asks why I go in their room late at night before I go to sleep… he doesn’t understand because they already kissed us goodnight earlier. It’s for this very reason you describe. I find it relaxing and soothing to see them sleeping so peacefully, my favorite last thing to do before I go to sleep myself. And reminds me to be thankful for each moment.
Cara Hohenstein says
This reminds me of a poem by Crystal Hadidian that was posted last week on the Simple Mom blog.
“After Two Years, I Should Be Doing Anything Else”
Slow breaths fill your body, still small,
but no longer so delicate.
North, South, East, West –
legs and arms sprawl.
When you were six weeks old,
a stranger told me how it would be:
his son is eighteen and still
he can’t stop staring.
You stare at your children
as long as they let you.
Awe slackens my jaw, straightens my spine,
smoothes tense fingers, stabilizes breath.
I watch you sleep and everything
is emptied from me.
Source: https://simplemom.net/poem-after-two-years-i-should-be-doing-anything-else/
Wendy Sue Swanson, MD, MBE says
wow. Beautiful!