At home I have an almost 8-year-old boy. He is already in second grade and is starting to learn independence in his own pace.

While leaving him in school has not been a problem for years now (except maybe on two occasions in pre-school), all I can complain about these days is bedtime. During bedtimes, he wants me to lie down with him first until he falls asleep. Else, he really won't sleep!

While that is rather sweet, it can get really irritating at times, especially when you still have house chores to attend to.

Sometimes I'm wondering if that behavior of his is normal. Well, here's what BabyCenter has to say on this matter:

According to Irwin Redlener, a clinical professor of pediatrics at Columbia University and president of the Children's Health Fund:

"It depends on why your child needs you there. She might simply cherish the special time with you. Perhaps your lives are hectic and this ritual is a way to reconnect. Or maybe she has a sibling or three, and she's discovered that a nightly lie-down gets her some one-on-one time. Another possibility is that she needs a little extra reassurance because of a challenging circumstance, such as a difficult teacher or a tough situation with friends.

In these cases, there's no cause for concern. As long as you have the time and don't mind lying down with your child at bedtime, the "ain't broke, don't fix it" maxim applies perfectly. This can be a wonderful opportunity for a parent and child to spend some positive, quiet time together."

So, do you experience this behavior with your child at home?