My Little Night Owls: Why I'll Always Welcome Them Into My Bed

wdym 😭😭 I love them forever and want them to be my little girls forever that come into my room in the middle of the night to sleep bc it makes them feel safe. 🥹 It's a topic that comes up a lot, and honestly, I just can't imagine it any other way for us right now. I know everyone has their own opinions on co-sleeping and kids in the bed, and honestly, that's totally fine! Every family is different, and what works for one might not work for another, and that's the beauty of it all, right? But for us, for me, these moments are just everything. They're fleeting, I know they are, and I just wanna soak up every single second of it while I can. I mean, one day they'll be teenagers and they'll be like 'ew mom, get away from me' hahah, so I'm just gonna take all the snuggles I can get now.

I remember when Stella was little, and then Ozzy, and now Cherry. It feels like just yesterday I was bringing Stella home from the hospital, and now she's this big sister who loves her little sisters so much. And with each one, the routine of them coming into our room has just kinda… evolved. It wasn't really a conscious decision we made like 'okay, we're gonna co-sleep forever.' It just kinda happened naturally, you know? Like, one night Stella would have a bad dream, and she'd come in, and we'd make space for her. Then Ozzy would follow suit, and now sometimes it's a full-on slumber party in our bed. And honestly, I wouldn't trade it for anything.

The Magic of Midnight Snuggles

There's just something so pure and innocent about a little one crawling into your bed in the middle of the night. Their little bodies are still warm from their own bed, and they just nestle in so perfectly. Sometimes they're half-asleep, sometimes they're wide awake and whispering about a monster or a bad dream, or just needing a drink of water. And in those moments, all I want to do is make them feel safe. That's my main job as a mom, right? To make sure my kids feel loved and protected. And if that means sacrificing a little bit of my own sleep or personal space for a few years, then so be it. It's a small price to pay for that feeling of security I can give them.

I mean, I'm not gonna lie, sometimes it's a little chaotic. Tanner and I have definitely woken up in some interesting positions, practically hanging off the bed, just to make sure the girls are comfy. And sometimes, yeah, I wake up feeling a little tired. But then I look over and see Stella's head nestled into my arm, or Ozzy's little hand holding Tanner's, and Cherry just peacefully sleeping between us, and my heart just melts. It's like, how could I ever say no to that? How could I ever tell them to go back to their own beds when all they want is to be close to us? It just feels right for our family right now. It feels like love.

Building Trust and Connection

I feel like these moments, even though they're small, are actually building something really big. They're building trust. My girls know that no matter what, they can always come to me, they can always come to us, and we'll be there for them. They know our bed is a safe haven, a place where they'll always be welcomed with open arms. And I think that's such an important foundation for them to have. To know that their parents are their soft place to land, always.

I remember my mom always being there for me, too. She was a single mom, and she worked so hard, but she always made sure I felt loved and secure. And I think that's something I really want to pass on to my girls. That feeling of unconditional love and support. And sometimes, it's not about grand gestures, it's about those quiet, everyday moments, like a middle-of-the-night cuddle. It's about being present, even when you're half-asleep. It's about showing up for them, literally, in the middle of the night.

Navigating the Opinions (and the Mess)

Okay, so I know there are a lot of different opinions out there about co-sleeping. Some people are all for it, some people are totally against it. And that's totally okay! Like I said, every family is different. I've heard it all, 'they'll never learn to sleep in their own bed,' 'you're creating bad habits,' 'you need your own space.' And honestly, I get it. I really do. There are definitely days when I'm like, 'man, a full night's sleep in my own bed sounds amazing right now.' hahah. But then I remember how quickly these years are flying by, and I just can't bring myself to push them away.

Tanner is my absolute rock through all of this, btw. He's such a good sport. Sometimes I think he gets even less sleep than I do bc he's always making sure the girls are tucked in and comfy. He's my hype man, always supporting whatever makes the girls (and me!) happy. He's never once complained about the lack of space or the occasional kick to the face in the middle of the night. He just rolls with it, and I love him sm for that. He just gets it, you know? He understands that these moments are precious.

And yeah, sometimes our bed is a disaster zone. There are stuffed animals, blankets, sometimes a stray sippy cup. It's not always picture-perfect, ngl. But it's real. It's our life right now. And I wouldn't trade the mess for anything. It's a happy mess, a loved mess. It's a sign that our home is full of life and laughter and little feet pattering down the hall in the dark.

Embracing the Season We're In

I know this phase won't last forever. One day, Stella will be too cool for snuggles, and Ozzy will want her own space, and Cherry will be a big girl sleeping soundly in her own bed all night long. And when that day comes, I know I'll miss these chaotic, beautiful, sleep-deprived nights. I'll miss the feeling of their little bodies pressed against mine, the sound of their soft breathing, the warmth of their presence.

So for now, I'm just embracing it. I'm soaking up every single moment. I'm saying yes to the midnight requests, yes to the extra cuddles, yes to the full bed. Because I know that these are the memories I'll look back on and cherish forever. These are the moments that are building the foundation of our family, one snuggle at a time. It's a season, and I'm just trying to be fully present in it, even if it means a little less sleep for me. It's worth it, every single time. ily my little night owls :,)