I debated whether to share what happened last night knowing that I continue to set myself up for criticism… but that’s what makes life fun, right? That we’re all different, as parents especially. So here goes… when I came home from work, changed and did the whole face routine, I got into bed with Daddy AND Charlotte and ended up having a conversation with Dave that woke her up. She flipped and flopped around then started demanding a sippy cup as she was thirsty. I kept telling her to go back to sleep but she would not relent. As I got up to get her a drink, sometimes it’s not worth the fight, Dave said she already had a sippy by the bed but it had milk in it. I rinsed out the milk in the bathroom sink and put water in it. You know what comes next… she wanted new milk. So began the battle that led to me carrying her into her room. She was having a major meltdown at this point and I calmly told her through the door I held closed, “When you calm down, you can come back in our bed.” Let’s just say more than two months of resistance training have not rendered me strong enough to tame a 3-year-old. She literally was twisting and pulling the door handle so hard I could barely keep it shut! Now you know what’s next, Thomas started screaming in his crib down the hall. Daddy took over with Charlotte and I went down the hall to rock Thomas back to sleep. 15 minutes later we were all back in bed and Dave said he couldn’t sleep. I know what he means. The energy you expend trying to get everyone to sleep wears you out so much you’re too tired to sleep. Been there?
Farrell’s Extreme Bodyshaping, Week 9: It’s great to go to bands class and zone out a bit because you’re too tired to think. Even doing the same exercises, I find the time goes by fairly quickly since it’s a calm and methodical style. Better save up some energy for kickboxing tomorrow!
Reese and Aidan from Dubuque
Posted under Baby Thomas: Month 11
This post was written by Tara on June 30, 2009
Been there. Parenting doesn’t come with a instruction book as you well know (or are finding out). Sometimes it’s harder than we want it to be.
Guess what? There will even be more problems like these that arise, and you’ll deal with them in what you think is the best way.
goodness, you do need a spa day or maybe a week!!! Let me know when you are ready, I will make the 1 hour drive and go with you!!!! ha ha ha
We are starting to Struggle getting our son to go to bed also. He has to have all the right toys with him, his woody and Jessie dolls must have their hats on and he has to have a sippy of water. He stays in his bed all night til the morning but it is a struggle getting him to sleep.
I have been there MANY times and I have had to do exactly the same thing. My daughter is 3 as well and it sounds like she has the same personality as Charlotte-extremely challenging!
Hang in there!
Must have been the night. I had a battle with my 5 year old daughter. First it was not wanting to take a shower and then it was not going to bed. Our struggle however, lasted an hour. The older they get the more strong willed they are and the longer the battles. See what you have to look forward to
Right now, my struggle is our 19 month old staying asleep all night. I’m not sure if she is having dreams, or what. She tosses, turns, talks in her sleep – cries out. I’m such a light sleeper, that I’m awake too! Then, our 5 year old will wake up and think he needs to come in our bed. I get him back to sleep, and then the 19 month old is starting to toss again!! ARGHHH!! And, this is all with both parents helping. My husband leaves in 2 weeks for Afghanistan for a year. What will I do without him??? I know I’ll find my way.
Young moms–keep the faith. You are doing what you think is best for your child. Only YOU can decide that!! Having said that I have to say that I’m not one who believes in the “family bed”. Some places need to be special just for Mom and Dad. Control starts when they’re young and it will continue into their adolescence. Tara and Dave–you’re both juggling full-time schedules and being the best parents you can be. There are so many parents who are there for the fun part of the baby-making process and then leave the poor children to their devices and it continues to repeat itself for generations and generations. It’s hard work being married, holding down important jobs like yours, and having children and none of them are any less important that the others. Keep up the good work, don’t be afraid to try new approaches to effective parenting (sounds like a book title), never be afraid to say “NO” and mean it, and never, never, never stop hugging and cuddling your kids. They will remember that 10 times more than any one “NO!”
Yes, I remember times holding the door closed on my strong willed first born 20 some years ago. She would cry and scream and bang on the door and pull on the knob and throw up. It was always over something very very trivial that she blew up into a major meltdown.
I think we have all been there one time or another, don’t beat yourself up. Charlotte and our daughters are a few months apart and we were having the same deal, fall asleep in her bed and 2-3 AM the herd of feet heard across the floor was coming for us. We have this summer really cracked down, and honestly it was 2 rough nights ( 2 I tell ya ) where we put her back in her bed, she would cry, carry on, back in bed, cry carry on, etc and we outwilled her FINALLY. 2 nights later, we thought gosh that wasn’t so bad…best peaceful sleeping since…good luck
Love your blog, and congrats on all of your hard work, you should be very proud of yourself!!!!