"Mommy, will you tuck me in?" are the words my son Benjamin will always ask at bedtime. Benjamin is my nine year old. He loves for me to give him attention. He was my baby that liked me to hold him close and cuddle him the most. Even now if I ask him to give me a hug he will let me hold him as long as I want. When I tuck him in at night I get his blanket and tuck it in tight around his feet then I'll make sure there are no blanket folds that would keep him from being snug and warm. After that I'll tuck the blanket in around his neck.

Then a special privileged event occurs. It will almost always happen when a child is settling in to sleep. The child usually understands it is time to calm down and get ready to fall asleep. They still want to stay awake even though they're mostly calm. If Mommy or Daddy is near the child will open the window to their heart.* It is a vulnerable moment when they trust you by inviting you into their private thoughts wanting you to listen or answer any question they may have. I look into Benjamin's face and ask him how his day went. Then he'll start telling me how he felt about the things that happened to him during the day. After that we'll talk about what he wants to know and then I'll tell him I love him and kiss him good night. Benjamin will smile contentedly and be ready to fall asleep.

*I learned about this event and it's importance in building a close relationship with your child in the book called Growing kids Gods Way by Gary and Anne Marie Ezzo. In their book they discuss it in the chapter titled The Father's Mandate.