Night-night. Bed.
The nighttime ritual with Lu has been pretty consistent. Bath, watch a few minutes of TV in our bedroom, books, a few songs including "Who Knows How Long I've Loved You" ("I Will" by the Beatles), "When You're Down and Troubled" ("You've Got a Friend," by James Taylor), "Blackbird Singing in the Dead of Night" ("Blackbird," by the Beatles). Ater singing we say "Now I Lay me Down to Sleep," minus the morbid bit about "my soul to take," then she blesses various people, then she says "Night-night. Crib." You have to put her in her crib in just the right way, pat her back a couple of times, then she says, "Good ni-ight." And you are dismissed. And she goes to sleep. And it's a little miracle, every single night.
I only now appreciate what a miracle our routine was (namely the part about how she goes to sleep), because...it's gone. She decided during last Sunday's nap that she was done with the crib. She climbed out eight times, finally falling asleep with me next to her on a palette on the floor. We blew up a twin air mattress for her to sleep on that night, which she did, quite well.
But the novelty of that first night has worn off, replaced by the realization that she can leave the bed whenever she wants. And so she does. As I write this post, I am sitting guard outside her door.
I only now appreciate what a miracle our routine was (namely the part about how she goes to sleep), because...it's gone. She decided during last Sunday's nap that she was done with the crib. She climbed out eight times, finally falling asleep with me next to her on a palette on the floor. We blew up a twin air mattress for her to sleep on that night, which she did, quite well.But the novelty of that first night has worn off, replaced by the realization that she can leave the bed whenever she wants. And so she does. As I write this post, I am sitting guard outside her door.
6 Comments:
Jason is now sitting guard. She insists on having the door "just like this" (puts tips of fingers about an inch apart).
She just came to the door, saw Jason sitting outside and said, "I'm still asleep."
She seems to be asleep. At least, when Jason turned off the hall light, she did not protest. I miss the crib so much, I am moved to write a haiku about it:
poor abandoned crib
how we long for baby jail
safe, confined slumber
So far, so good for me for nap - two Mondays on the blow up bed for me - two very long naps - no getting up. I threatened her with, "Mama and Dad said you could not get up". "OK, Granny". And she stayed on the mattress.
x0x0x0x
Not to worry - it will return to the nice routine you once had. But everyone now and then you will have the evening where you will have to put her to bed and keep putting her back to bed. I think our record was 35 times in a 1 hr stretch. Then when i went to check on T he was sleeping on the floor.
I was wondering when this was going to happen. I have known many children who started this at about 18 mo. so does this mean bedtime ritual changes?
Post a Comment
<< Home