When Brandon, Heather and Seth were younger, Linda and I each helped in putting our children to bed. We took turns helping with the basics like brushing and flossing teeth, putting pajamas on and giving baths. Linda usually helped with homework and we rarely ever watched TV after dinner unless it was for a family program together. (We had no TV for seven years.)
As we were tucking in our kids, I would tell parable stories based on Biblical principles and Bible stories and Linda would read books and Bible stories aloud to them. One night I would take two kids and Linda would take one. The next night she would take two and I would have one. We would also sing bedtime songs and hymns to them after tucking them in.
Linda shares the following:
One night I was singing hymns and Brandon requested “The Bear Song.” I could not think of which song that was. Brandon denied each song I suggested it might be. Finally I asked if it was the song “What a Friend We Have in Jesus.” Brandon exclaimed, “Yes!” As I sang it I realized why he thought it was a bear song, “. . . All our sins and griefs to bear!”
Another night I was tucking Brandon in when he was three years old. He commented, “Mom, will you always sing to me, even when I’m in college?” Amused I replied, “When you are in college, if you still want me to sing to you, of course, I will.” Funny thing is, when he was in college he never asked me!
To you parents, God gives wisdom how to share responsibility in the evenings with your children. You have each been gifted in different ways than Linda and me, so your ways will look different than ours but will be effective for your family.
Proverbs 24:3 (NIV) “By wisdom a house is built and through understanding it is established.”