The Closing Routine
On dimming the lights, the last open window, and falling asleep at 8pm.
Every night I like to shut down the house like I’m a busy shop keeper closing up at the end of the shift. Not sure what my make-believe store is exactly, but certainly something like a haberdashery with bits and bobs and lots of drawers.
The closing shift happens alongside the rhythm of dinner, bath, toothbrushing, pajamas, and bedtime stories. It goes (roughly) like this:
Dim the lights around 5pm. Gradually dim more closer to 6pm. 2700 kelvin turned way down, or bust.
Take my knitting out of my tote bag, where it’s been all day waiting for a free moment that never came, and put it on my nightstand. I’ll work on it in the dark after the girls are asleep.
Fold the blankets back over the beds after spending the morning (or full day) of lüften.
Light the taper candle on the dining room table for dinner. Margot sets the coasters and waters. Ross preps food.
Maybe I get a half load of dishes in before dinner. Maybe.
Get dinner dishes rinsed and in the dishwasher, or empty all the dirty sink dishes onto the counter. I need to make room in the kitchen sink so Hattie can take her bath in a tub in the sink
Load the dishwasher while playing/singing/dancing with Hattie at arm’s length in the sink.
Ross runs a load of laundry before bath time so it’s ready for the dryer before we go to bed. He’s in charge of laundry in our house, I’m responsible for dishes.
Close most of the windows I opened this morning, in no particular order. (one window stays open for last)
Close the curtains and pull the blackout shades. Lock the doors. Ross will later set the alarm.
Ross refills Margot’s water cup and puts it on her bedside table. I put a few pacifiers on my nightstand for Hattie, so I can reach them in the dark without fully waking up if she stirs.
Feed Hattie her night time bottle in the corner of the couch by the remaining open window at the front porch . While I read her a book, I enjoy the sunset and the light breeze through the screen.
Blow out the candles, including the taper on the dining room table. Sometimes Margot does this task
Ross or I turn on Margot’s reading lamp and she picks out her books. She reads with Ross before bed.
Make sure both half-dishwashers are running so we wake up to a clean kitchen. Wipe the counters. Having a kitchen reset before bed is a non-negotiable. I don’t always get it done before the girls are asleep, but it’s done before I turn in.
I put Hattie down in my bed in the crook of my arm. I often get up to get some things done, but I’ve been known to fall asleep with her at 8pm.
The shop is closed.