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Two nights ago I nearly tossed my youngest into his crib!
Now don’t go calling Child Protective Services yet. I didn’t really toss him (though he’s a string bean and light enough so I could if I wanted to). I gently held him, rocked him a bit, and placed him in bed — against his wishes.
He was mad.
It was past bedtime by about 30 minutes. I was tired. He was tired. I felt bad that he wasn’t ready – emotionally – for sleep. But physically we were both spent.
I told him night night and I love you.
I closed the doors, expecting screams.
There was a brief cry.
In 15 seconds, all I heard was silence.
Amazing. He really HAD wanted to go to bed. But for a half hour he sang out a high-pitched mantra of “no bed! no night night! NO NIGHT NIGHT!”
and I remembered, I AM the Parent. I KNOW when it’s time to tuck the tiny people into la-la land. They do NOT know, or at least they will not EVER acknowledge when they are overtired and donewiththeday.
While not a sleepy love story of a bedtime with books and hugs and snuggles, it was still in its own way sweet. Moving on to the big brother was a piece of cake. Teeth brushed, pjs on, potty used, he requested and received a “snuggle party” — a two-minute snuggle in his bed and a song. Generally I sing “Mockingbird”, but sometimes, “You Are My Sunshine”.
Tonight I sang both.
Eyes closed, he was pretty much out before I closed the door.
It was his last night as a four year old.
Welcome, Five Year Old.
I am so very happy to meet you.
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Hey, why not visit my blog! Just a little about me, I’m a 30-something aspiring writer and fulltime public health manager, mother of two young boys, and wife to my loving husband, whom I met as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Dominican Republic. Raised in northern Virginia, I’ve lived in the Pacific Northwest for the past six years and cherish my life outside the busy Washington DC Beltway! While not attempting to co-run the household, juggle kids + dog + fulltime job, I run, swim, and practice yoga.
And of course, I write. I currently have two projects underway: 1) a nonfiction book proposal based on endurance sport and psychological transformation and 2) a memoir based on a profound and powerful experience that I continue to receive, welcome, resist, and accept in varying degrees. Personally, one of my greatest dreams is to achieve uninterrupted deep sleep and wake well rested, but in the meantime, I am truly enjoying the journey.
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