I have a 10-year old boy and 12-year old girl. I read to them together most nights and always tuck them in with a back rub. The ritual is that I always say, "I love you, I love you, I love you," they say, "I love you more," and I say, "I love you the most." They used to argue with me that it was impossible for me to love them more than they love me, but we've sorted that out over the past few years. I also tell them "You're my favorite girl/boy" accordingly. When we got a dog, I added "you're my favorite dog."

I'm an only child and I had a ritual of squeezing my parents' hand three times for "I love you" whenever we held hands. I saw my dad doing it with my kids when we visited recently and they were surprised that I knew the "code" when I mentioned it!

Super hug! - DH and I take turns putting DS to bed. Whoever is not putting him to bed - gets a "Super hug". DS stands at one end of our long hallway, and we stand at the other - he runs down and into our arms. He's 4.

I have to work late tonight and won't get home until after he is in bed - so I got a superhug this morning before I left for work.

It's the best.

Anonymous wrote:These are all so cute. By contrast, all of our rituals are really just weird little ways my 2.5yo twins have managed to lengthen bedtime. So now they always get a cup of water once they get in their crib, and we let them out to run the empty cups to the trash can. The newest one is shining their flashlights on the nightlight before they get in their crib. Not surprisingly, bedtime is starting to take a looooong time...

Same. We used to have such an efficient bedtime routine. Now the 3.5 year old stretches it out amazingly. Water, then potty, then water again, then taking forever to decide on a book, then kicking off the blanket and needing it to be replaced, then potty ... we are trying to night train and he knows we won't refuse the potty request (although the other stuff I tell him to do himself). Oh and then there is the request for certain ritual good night words through the audio monitor. That's been going on forever. I usually spend 20 mins upstairs after light out waiting for his shenanigans to end. I use that time to fold laundry, dust, or surf the web on my phone.

When I was little my dad would take my blanket in the air and say "parachute!" as he descended it down on me. I do the same thing for DS. He's 4 and we've been doing it since he was old enough to sleep with a blanket.

If we forget it, he gets very upset and will come find us in order to do it. Last week, he and DH got back late from the in laws and DS was dead asleep in DH's arms as he put him into his bed. DS half woke up and whispered "Don't forget parachute"

I love that its a ritual I had with my dad and now DS has it too

These are all so cute. By contrast, all of our rituals are really just weird little ways my 2.5yo twins have managed to lengthen bedtime. So now they always get a cup of water once they get in their crib, and we let them out to run the empty cups to the trash can. The newest one is shining their flashlights on the nightlight before they get in their crib. Not surprisingly, bedtime is starting to take a looooong time...

Anonymous wrote:I put a little tent at the foot of my bed. Every morning, my 2.5 year old comes into my room, and he gets to watch videos and eat pancakes in the tent while I shower. He has a good life.

sweet

No idea how it started, but every night before I put one of my kids to bed, we nuzzle noses and say "I'm glad you're mine". He's 3.

Anonymous wrote:DD is 14 but we have a lot of rituals.

When I'm leaving her home alone, I listen as she locks the door behind me and then say "Good job, little buddy!" (it's a joke)

When we reunite (even if it's just during school/work) we open our arms wide and give each other a big dramatic hug.

Every Saturday we get brunch.

After every dentist visit we stop in at the Disney store to look around.

It sounds like you have an awesome relationship with your daughter. Whatever you did, you did it right!

I put a little tent at the foot of my bed. Every morning, my 2.5 year old comes into my room, and he gets to watch videos and eat pancakes in the tent while I shower. He has a good life.

DD is 14 but we have a lot of rituals.

When I'm leaving her home alone, I listen as she locks the door behind me and then say "Good job, little buddy!" (it's a joke)

When we reunite (even if it's just during school/work) we open our arms wide and give each other a big dramatic hug.

Every Saturday we get brunch.

After every dentist visit we stop in at the Disney store to look around.

As the parent of teens now, this thread made me feel a little misty. These kinds of accidental rituals are so great and really form the basis for what later becomes the things that "we" as a family do. Some of those things have faded as the kids have grown, but we still have tuck in rituals and places we go to or things we do that are simply our things to do together.

I don't know if this ritual will stick, but my 1.5 year old and I sit on the front porch every morning while DH walks the dog. She gets her shoes as soon as DH starts getting the leash, and I grab my cup of coffee and follow the three of them out. She sits next to me on the top stair and we wave hi to the neighbors and watch for them to get back from the walk. It's adorable and I hope it lasts.

critty111 wrote:I knock on the wall before he goes to bed. I did it one night to prove to him that I was right there on the other side of the wall when he was scared. Now I do it every night. 10 times to be exact. I honestly thought it was silly. But then, for mothers day they filled out these little cards at school about why they love their moms. He wrote "because my mom knocks 10 times" The teacher gave it to me and said, maybe you'll know what he meant by this. My eyes filled with tears, I didn't realize how much it meant to him

that is SO great!!!

must start knocking on son's wall

I knock on the wall before he goes to bed. I did it one night to prove to him that I was right there on the other side of the wall when he was scared. Now I do it every night. 10 times to be exact. I honestly thought it was silly. But then, for mothers day they filled out these little cards at school about why they love their moms. He wrote "because my mom knocks 10 times" The teacher gave it to me and said, maybe you'll know what he meant by this. My eyes filled with tears, I didn't realize how much it meant to him

My 3 year old and I drink tea and eat peanut butter from the jar every night lol somehow it became a ritual for us. He will drink the tea from a tiny espresso cup ha

Do you guys have any quirky or random rituals with your kids?