Just checking in on you...

At night, we have this silly parental habbit of "checking in" on our little girls before we turn out the last lights and head to bed ourselves. One of us (or sometimes both) will crack open the doors to their rooms and peek in to make sure they're covered and sleeping soundly. I know... it's silly, and I'm sure we're the only parents in the world who would do such a thing.

Well... one night last week I went in to Jadyn's room and pulled the covers up to tuck her in again. Only this time she woke up. Rubbing her eyes, she asked in a groggy voice, "Daddy - why are you in here?" I replied, "I was just checking in on you and tucking you in." Her sleepy curiosity satisfied, she said, "Oh," closed her eyes, and went back to sleep.

The next morning, I headed off to work. As Julie and the girls sat at the table eating breakfast, Jadyn asked, "Mommy... why do you come in my room while I'm sleeping?" Julie replied, "becuase we love you and we like looking at you and seeing that you're safe and sound asleep." Again, that answer satisfied Jadyn's question.

Later that night, Julie put the girls to bed. As usual, she checked in on the girls, and then turned out the lights and climbed in to bed.

Now, any parent knows that you develop a sixth sense about your kids as time goes on. As Julie dozed off, she suddenly had that feeling that someone was in the room. No noise. No words. Just a feeling. She looked over, and sure enough the door was open a crack - about the width of a four-year-old. As she scanned the room, her eyes still fighting to adjust in the darkness, she picked up the silloutte of our Jadyn standing motionless at the foot of the bed.

"Jadyn," Julie asked, "Do you need to go potty?" This, of course, is the usual reason for a midnight visitor.

"No," came her reply.

"Is something wrong, Honey? Why are you up?" Julie asked, a bit puzzled.

"Nothing's wrong," Jadyn smiled. "I just wanted to check in on you."

With that, Julie had to get up and give her another goodnight hug. "I love you, too." she said, and sent Jadyn back to bed.

Precious moments~