What time of the day exactly does mommy duties start? I know some mothers who wake up as early as 3.30 in the morning to prepare their kids for school.

In this household, it sometimes begin where it (never actually) ended.

Topic for the day? Co-sleeping, with the kids.

How many of you still let your kids sleep on your bed? Let me the first to raise my hand. 8 years into the marriage before we had our first baby. As you might have guessed, we never ever let a second go by without touching our little girl. We marveled at the sweet smell of her skin. At night she would be in between us ( her baby carrier-bed) as hubby and I took turns in giving her milk during the night. 3 years later, the 2nd baby arrived and big sister was still sleeping on our bed. The vacant room is just waiting to be turned into a little girls' room. But no, apparently not one of us is ready to cut the bond. Ahihihi...

Our 4 and 7-year-old girls still sleep on our bed. Some say co-sleeping can impose some adverse effects on the children's behavior. They may not learn independence. Maybe true in some cases. But not in this household. My kids are very independent. They can fend for themselves when the needs arise. They are outspoken. They have not asked for their own room. Hubby and I have considered the change though. The only downside I see in our practice of co-sleeping is that I sometimes do not get the rest I need. Sometimes. I have not shed the habit of waking up in the middle of the night to check if the night was too cold or if the kids have not kicked their blankets off or if the pillows still in place or if they were breathing properly. Although the past years I have learned the trick of being half awake half asleep while feeling around for the blanket at the foot of the bed in the dark. Next thing I know, the 6 o'clock alarm is ringing in my ears. The kids love it when even in their sleep they can feel the heat of my arm or the smell of my hair (big sister said so...). They say they love it when we are the first people they see when they wake up. And we all know that getting the kids to get up during school days are just the hardest! So making a game out of opening their eyes and actually getting up saves us a lot of energy. It's the "who wants to hold mommy's hands while squirming out of bed like a worm and go get breakfast" kinda game. In order to do that, both kids need to move it! We just love that! Of course, soon enough they sense the trick. Sometimes it's the "guess which kid mommy's gonna hug and tickle first?" --- of course, I hug and tickle them both. But they have to open their eyes to see where I go. Believe me, it is just a lot of fun! There are grumpy mornings. Just no sense beating myself up about that and go away angry. Mommy grumpy pajamas with the wet kisses takes over. Ahihihi...

Although we are very well aware that someday the kids will have to have their own room. Someday. In the distant future.

Happy kids is my coffee. (I take my coffee at night to help me sleep. Now that's another blog entry... hehehe).

Have a pleasant day mommies!!!