A new outlook (sorry the post is a long one)
Wednesday, January 19, 2005We have weighed it all out and here are some new conclusions; We used to try and force Jake to stay in bed - he would then cry exhaustively for HOURS and keep the other two up and always go to sleep on a negative note. We tried the putting him back to bed every time he got out - we spent many an evening going up and down the stairs battling wills with a two year old. We tried to ignore him when he stayed up - we then lost out on a couple hours of interactive quality time with just him and no siblings to compete with.
Now we are spending nice time with him. We don't cater to him, nor let him run the evening, but we cherish the time we get with just him. He tags along as I wash the dishes, fold laundry, read, watch TV eat snacks and he tells daddy stories, does puzzles with him, eat snacks together, tell knock-knock jokes and cuddle. Both Pernell and I are really enjoying it.
My mother will grumble and do the "I wouldn't let him get away with that, he thinks it is a reward" speech... tough shit on her. I know we are doing the right thing, it just took a little while to figure out... since my first two kids love sleeping!
That is all the ramblings I have for today... sorry it is so long... and unrelated to your lives... but my goodness Jake is so so so cute when he is on his own! He did puzzles and sang, "bup ba buv ba bup bu ba" (Twinkle twinkle little star) this evening while shaking his bum in a dance sort of move :)
We used to have the same battles with Jordan. I don't think there is anything wrong at all with your approach.
8:46 AM