You may think that I’m writing this after some sort of toddler fit. Nope. Old Mom is having her own toddler moment and I just need to vent, because our family sleep situation is just not fair.
I was a great sleeper. Every night I went to bed when my parents told me to. I went right to sleep unless my sister was feeling a little chatty. But even on those days, I fell asleep to her chatter. I happily took a nap every day until I went to school. And even after I went to school, I took naps on the weekend. I wasn’t just a great sleeper – I was the sleeper that every parent dreams of.
Fast forward forty years.
My kids are not good sleepers. Sweet Boy had a lot of medical issues that made it difficult for him to sleep as a baby. As a toddler, his asthma medications kept him wired way beyond when he should have been going to bed. Now as we are preparing him for kindergarten, the boy spends hours after his “bedtime” building with his different styles of blocks and reading his hidden pictures magazines. There are many nights that I fall asleep before he does.
Now girlie was a much better infant sleeper- except for that 16 teeth in 8 months period. But the toddler years have not been so successful. She likes to explore at bedtime. She will go into her brother’s room to play with his toys. Or sometimes she’ll go into my room and re-sort the laundry. My favorite though is when she goes into the bathroom to try every toothbrush. Really what she’s doing is killing time until her brother’s bedtime so she can play with him for a little longer.
Nap time is a joke in the old mom house. They will not sleep if they are on the same floor. One child needs to sleep on the couch downstairs or they will just play the whole time. And they try to be sneaky about it. One kid tiptoes into the other kid’s room and they gently close the door. Then they remind each other to whisper so they don’t wake mommy and get in trouble Seriously?!?!?!?! They slam doors and scream like banshees all day but they actually remind each other to whisper so they can play at nap time.
So now what?
Believe me, I know that each kid is going to have a different sleep schedule, but my kids are so obviously tired that they need more sleep. They don’t want to get up after a late night. They whine and tantrum when they don’t nap well. I don’t have any answers for getting them to sleep better because I really don’t understand it. I love to sleep. When I’m tired, I sleep (well now with these two I sleep or have a coffee). I’m trying to get their schedule more consistent. We have a bedtime routine with stories and songs, hugs and kisses. I’ve read the articles. I’m trying all the best practices. But I just can’t relate.
All I can do is remind myself (again) that this is a phase that will pass. Also, I need to remember that there is a positive side to all of this. They are playing together. They really are great playmates. I’m a little nervous about them plotting together in their teenage years, but for now, it’s all good stuff as long as daddy can stay up with them at night. Because old mom is going to sleep.
