I just can’t muster up the energy. Of course, the energy required to post on the blog is of a different sort entirely, and so thus, here I am. Sam I am. (Ok, my name isn’t Sam. You’ve outed me. Oh wait, that was my previous post. )
Yesterday The other day I took a vacation day to try and do some more packing, spend some time with the kiddos and give my mom a chance to switch her cable service (seriously, those guys take forever and a day. And a half.) Since I’m on the subject of confessions lately, and also riding the high of a new, undiscovered-by-my-family-and-I-pray-to-God-it-stays-that-way blog, let me admit that sometimes, when I am going to be alone with the children all day, I feel intimidated.
It’s not really the whole day that gets to me. It’s naptime. I’d written about this on my previous blog — naptime scares the hell out of me. I both adore and loathe naptime. It depends on the day/hour/minute/week which side (adoration or loathing) is winning.
Things have been getting better lately — Cupcake has successfully fallen asleep in her bed at naptime and bedtime several times.. unfortunately, just as many times saw us still awake and fighting to get her to sleep at 9:30, 10:00 and even 10:30 pm (last night. sigh).
Here’s hoping that the new apartment makes a big difference in our sleeping habits coming up. At least I’m finally sleeping in the bed next to my husband again – something we haven’t done in almost a year. One of us always slept on the couch to be closer to Cupcake just in case she needed us — we needed to establish a feeling of security for her, so that she wouldn’t be afraid to go to sleep. So she would know that Mommy and Daddy were there if she needed us. It was the right thing to do, but man did it suck. So we are finally sleeping next to each other (I’ve missed it, which is surprising, because my darling, dearest DG does snore quite a bit) (love you, babe!) again! Yay!
But still. Naptime and bedtime come around and I feel a little tinge of nervousness — which is foolish, because most of the time, DG is taking care of it! When I am doing the bedtime routine, though… still a teensy bit of nervousness that it will end up a disaster.
I don’t want to get frustrated and be harsh with her. I don’t want to get tense and stressed and have bedtime associated with something negative.
We’ll keep taking baby steps. DG and I will still practice a zen-like calm in the face of toddler bedtime tantrums and chatty Cathy-ness, wide-awake eyes at 10pm and general tomfoolery at an time that we should be cuddling (or at least tap-tap-tapping on our respective laptops while sitting next to each other on the couch) and enjoying some togetherness.
Children sure do put a strain on marraige, huh?
I hear ya. Bedtime is usually 10pm here too. Naptime is more and more infrequent. And he rarely sleeps through the night. Combine that with the occasional night terrors and you’ve got a great time in our house.
I hope it gets better for you.
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MommyGeek Reply:
June 4th, 2009 at 3:16 PM
@Kat, oh geez. You win. Seriously. I know you weren’t trying to win, but you do. That sounds absolutely maddening. But I feel much better knowing I’m not alone. So thanks for that. That being said…. geez I sure do hope you find a better situation!
Things are getting better at our place, and a lot of the credit (in my opinion) goes to Elizabeth Pantley’s “No Cry Sleep Solution” — we read it when our second was an infant (guess she still is, huh?) and when Cupcake was about 2, 2 1/2 — still very relevant for both ages. Maybe you should try to give it a read?
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Kat Reply:
June 4th, 2009 at 3:55 PM
@MommyGeek, Definitely not trying to win. In fact, I’d rather not be the winner here. But I’m willing to try anything. I’ll have to find to see if I can get a copy of that book. Thanks for the recommendation!
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I’m SO glad you moved. I can’t imagine neighbors waking my kids. I’d go ballistic. But ultimately, what can you do?
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MommyGeek Reply:
June 5th, 2009 at 11:45 AM
@Maria, are you insinuating that banging on their door every hour to tell them to shut the eff up wasn’t an option?
Oops.
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we’re going through some serious sleeping issues at our house too-naptime for Ruby means fall asleep on Mom or Dad..not in the crib. WHATEVER you do…don’t fall asleep in the crib!
Hope it gets better for you soon.
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MommyGeek Reply:
June 5th, 2009 at 11:45 AM
@Hillary, good luck – we had that issue with Cupcake… and she’s three and finally in her own bed. My advice? Get a copy of the No Cry Sleep Solution (Elizabeth Pantley) — can’t say enough about that book. Perfect for us. Maybe for you, too!
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haha – strain?? They test the limits and keep pulling on it, but you know – there are moments I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world because they’ve taught me so much more about myself/my marriage that make me a better person today!
Have a great weekend!
~K
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MommyGeek Reply:
June 5th, 2009 at 11:46 AM
@Kel, you hit the nail on the head. There are times I feel like we’re being pulled apart, but we are pushed together (sometimes literally…) more often than not. And that’s wonderful!
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Yeah, they are. In so many ways. I am militant about nap and bed times, saves my sanity, friends mock me for my inflexibility.
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MommyGeek Reply:
June 30th, 2009 at 9:52 AM
@anymommy, I’ve read about the inflexibility. I find it refreshing, frankly. lol. I wish I could manage to get a routine down!
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I hope the new apartment will improve the sleeping in your family. Its nice to sleep next to your husband, isn’t.
We have huge nap and sleep issues at our house. Naptime was screaming and running around time so that is gone replaced by quiet time. She will fall asleep on the couch when she needs it.
Nighttime is a battle too, she fights it hard. Finally I’ve just decided to let her sleep where she wants (bed or floor) and its a little better.
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MommyGeek Reply:
June 30th, 2009 at 9:53 AM
@But Why Mommy, things are slowly improving. I read the No Cry Sleep Solution, again, and found a few more things I could be doing. Let me know if you want to borrow – I just put it down.
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