The silence of the toddler
It's official. He's driven me insane.
Son has had a hard time going to sleep for the past few nights.
Every night at bedtime we follow our usual routine, and then just when it's time to close the door, he reaches into his bag of tricks to stall for more time.
Among his tricks are:
And have I mentioned that he screams?
Since we've figured out that he's just messing with us at bedtime, it's been tough love time in our house these last two nights.
As a result, we've had to endure some screaming. And by "some" I mean "a few hours worth".
I went to go check on him a few minutes ago and realized the depth of insanity to which he has cast me. Here's how I knew that I am now officially crazy:
Once I scooped him up and sat down with him in the rocking chair, and as he peacefully drifted off to sleep in my arms - I COULD STILL HEAR HIM SCREAMING.
And now, here I sit, on the opposite end of the house. He's sound asleep. The TV is muted. And yet I still hear the screaming in my head.
Anybody know where I can get myself a nice seersucker straitjacket?
Son has had a hard time going to sleep for the past few nights.
Every night at bedtime we follow our usual routine, and then just when it's time to close the door, he reaches into his bag of tricks to stall for more time.
Among his tricks are:
- "one mo boo" - I'd like one more book
- "kee kee" - I need to potty
- "nigh nigh Mommy ee ee" - I'd like to say goodnight to Mommy and Daughter
- "raa gin" - I'd like to spend more time in the rocking chair
And have I mentioned that he screams?
Since we've figured out that he's just messing with us at bedtime, it's been tough love time in our house these last two nights.
As a result, we've had to endure some screaming. And by "some" I mean "a few hours worth".
I went to go check on him a few minutes ago and realized the depth of insanity to which he has cast me. Here's how I knew that I am now officially crazy:
Once I scooped him up and sat down with him in the rocking chair, and as he peacefully drifted off to sleep in my arms - I COULD STILL HEAR HIM SCREAMING.
And now, here I sit, on the opposite end of the house. He's sound asleep. The TV is muted. And yet I still hear the screaming in my head.
Anybody know where I can get myself a nice seersucker straitjacket?
posted by Leighton aka MyBestInvest at
4:15 PM
11 Comments:
With every one of my newborns, i could hear their little screams pulsing through my ears. I finally put Hubs on baby duty and plugged my pulsing ears with an iPod. Magic.
One of the "joys" of motherhood you guys usually get to miss out on. Enjoy!
But good for ya'll for dishing out the tough love. Long term, you won't regret it. Short-term, you might want to get TWO straitjackets, in case one's in the wash.
Oh, I don't envy you a bit. I hated those times, but we stuck with the tough love too. Life was so much easier after a while. I'd say a few playbacks of The Office or American Idol might do the trick...
It's only daddy-guilt making you hear the screaming after he's stopped! Just remind yourself repeatedly that you are doing the right thing in helping your son learn to control himself INSTEAD of other people! ((PAT ON THE BACK))
"It's only a phase... it's only a phase... It's only a phase..."
This is what I say to myself when our two-year-old is going through a few nights (or more) of terrible sleep habits.
Tough love is at least as tough on parents as on the kids! We aren't very good about it around here. :) We're wimps.
Good luck, especially with the phantom screaming. Poor Dad!
OH my gosh, do I ever know what you mean by the phantom screaming!!!!! good luck with the tough love.
Mmm, I'm not sure seersucker would be appropriate for a straightjacket. I would go with Madras if I were you. (insert tongue in cheek)
My daughter is fifteen, but I vividly remember laying in bed, holding hands with my husband for strength while waiting for her to "cry it out". It paid off, and we never had a problem with her going to bed or trying to crawl into bed with us. But it was TOUGH. I don't think I will ever forget it. Hang in there.
AHHHHHHH!
AHHHHHHH!
AHHHHHHH!
Your handy-handy wife could make you one of those straitjackets!
I had a similar experience with Susannah when she was a baby...I ended up sleeping in the basement...separated by 2 floors and concrete, and I could still hear the screaming. All the while Stephen slept (like a baby) oblivious to anything.
Emily
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How old is he? Lydia is milking that bedtime routine for EVERYTHING it's worth, too. Just how many eskimo kisses does one girl need?!
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