It's been one of those days.
The kind where I am too tired to care that my son spent nearly the whole day watching Barney on the iPod. The kind of way where my solution to dinner was TV dinners.
I read two chapters from my how-to-start-and-run a business text book and for that reason alone I consider the day a success.
Parenting is a difficult business.
I'm realizing we've allowed some bad habits to develop in our kid.
First there is his inability to sleep on his own, in his own bed. We've been over this before. My own fault in this aside, I'm beginning to believe that this child inherited that gene that runs in our family, the one that allows the possessor to run perfectly fine on 4 or 5 hours of sleep. (Thank you Ferrin side.) (Not really.) (I could use some angelic help, if anyone in heaven happens to be paying attention to my plight.) (Please don't give me any sleeping books nor advice on this. I've already heard it and tried it.)
Also, and perhaps more grating to my nerves, his whining. We've given in too many times and now it is a deep-rooted habit. In fact, he doesn't even reasonably ask for anything anymore. He starts with crying for it. This morning I decided was the day this habit comes to an end.
We had approximately 473 time-outs today.
I imagine we'll have that many again tomorrow.
And if my child repeats his normal patterns, this could be expected for the next 7 to 10 days.
I realize that I only have one child, but I'm going to say this anyway. I have never met a more persistent, determined, strong-willed child. (I have met several two year olds between my years of daycare, nannying, and pre-school.)
I did expect as much though. Given I am his mother, and my parents wished him on me, since I was the most persistent, determined, and strong-willed child my parents had ever met. So tell me, mom and dad, is this parental revenge sweet?
Anyway.
I feel like this post has probably ranted enough.
Maybe too much.
Maybe it appears I am ungrateful.
I'm not.
I love my life.
I love my kid.
It's just, today was one of those days.
You have them too, right?
4 comments:
There will come a night, not too far off, when your sweet boy will not only sleep all night, but will do so in his own bed, willingly. Trust your instincts on how to get him to this point. I've learned that my kiddos learned better habits when I was determined to teach them. Some were easier to teach than others, but eventually, maturity hits and we all grow up. Take heart and be of good courage my friend. These days will be THOSE DAYS before you know it.
I'll call you tomorrow.
We have talked about all the issues with the pirate and as you well know he is persistant because he thinks eventually you will cave. He is way too smart for his own good and yours too!! Just hang in there! And my kids were sleeping by their selves by high school. Well part of them were anyway.
Yes I have those days an awful, awful lot! Just because we're grateful and happy with our kids doesn't mean it isn't hard and very difficult at times.
Ro started playing up with his sleeping at the start of January. It was a nightmare for me because he seemed to run perfectly fine on 4-5 hours of sleep, too, without naps :(. Which means that's what I was running on - which is what I do anyway but usually getting a lot more done in that time. He also started sleeping in with us and although it was 'nice' it was hard, too. Loads of people gave advice when all I wanted someone to say was; 'it gets better and doesn't last forever, you'll get through this.' Like you, we'd tried EVERYTHING everyone suggested and the only thing that worked was trial and error of a few different things and even then he's not sleeping perfectly right now - but at least he sleeps all night in his bed. You'll get there eventually.
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