Reset: Gratitude > Gas (Especially After Mexican Food).

Why our bedtime gratitude ritual beats sibling squabbles, bad toothpaste, and burrito blowouts.

The twins shared a room from birth, and as soon as Hunter could talk, he told us he wanted in too. How could we say no?

So we built bunk beds and a loft, found three dressers that were taller than they were wide, and gave them each a little corner to decorate. They were proud of their space. Proud to be together.

The problem? Not every night looked like peaceful sheep-counting and brotherly love.

Some nights it was Hunter grinding his teeth.

Or Cooper taking the last good toothpaste.

Or Jackson fumigating the room after his second helping of Mexican food.

Or just a flat out, dad approved, royal rumble that would sometimes end in hurt feelings, tears, or something breaking.

What should’ve been “goodnight, boys” often turned into refereeing, threats, and the occasional dad overreaction that ended with a kid crying and me apologizing.

That’s when I tried something different.

A simple way to settle down at the end of the day. A spot check to remind us there’s always something to be grateful for, even if the day (or the last 15 minutes) didn’t go well.

Every night, before bed, we’d go around and name one thing we were thankful for. I’d snuggle with a different boy each night, listening as they took turns.

At first, it was small stuff:

“Pizza for dinner.”

“Extra screen time.”

“Dad didn’t burn the burgers this time.”

Sometimes they were still mad at each other. Sometimes mad at me. But we did it anyway, even through gritted teeth.

Then it shifted.

“Playing catch after practice.”

“Grandma calling to say hi.”

“The way Hunter made me laugh today.”

And then it shifted again.

The gratitude turned into prayer:

“Please help Cooper feel better.”

“Thank you for Drew’s new friend.”

“Help Jackson not be nervous tomorrow.”

What started as dad desperation turned into something else, our secret weapon against going to bed upset or anxious.

Because it’s hard to hold on to fear and gratitude at the same time.

When we ended the day with thankful hearts, the worries lost their grip.

The room felt lighter.

The boys fell asleep easier.

And honestly, so did I.

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The Science

Psychologists call it the “gratitude effect.”

Shifting your attention to thankfulness reduces anxiety by lowering cortisol and nudging your brain toward calm.

Neuroscience says it literally rewires your thought patterns. This makes gratitude one of the cheapest, simplest “resets” you can practice.

No co-pay,

no melatonin,

just a few thankful words before bed.

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The Scripture

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

—Philippians 4:6–7 (NIV)

Paul doesn’t say gratitude erases the mess.

He says it guards your heart in the middle of it.

Which is good news because no amount of toothpaste rationing has ever prevented a bedtime war in my house.

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The Reflection

I thought I was just giving my boys a bedtime routine. Turns out, gratitude works better than melatonin.

It doesn’t make the toothpaste wars disappear or stop Jackson from fumigating the room, but it shifts the mood.

It lightens the load.

And honestly, it helps me as much as it helps them.

A grateful heart really is a lighter heart.

Even in a bedroom that smells like tacos.

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The Reset Reminder

Before the lights go out, ask: What’s one thing you’re grateful for today?

It might start with pizza.

It might grow into prayer.

But either way, gratitude shifts the room

and the heart

toward peace.