10:37pm. Why it’s so hard to get a toddler to bed.
Written By Esther Davy
It’s 10:37pm. My three year old went down to bed at 8pm after a nice family dinner and a quick dip in the hot tub. It was lovely, snuggling up on the couch, reading books, then a kiss and snuggle goodnight and she goes to bed. Every parents dream, right?
Mr Mountaineer and I sit down to watch the latest Iliza Shlesinger comedy special and we hear her talking softly to her doll in the background. We think, “No big deal, she will fall asleep soon.” After an hour or so, he goes into her room and tells her she needs to get back in bed and “you will get a consequence” if you don’t go to sleep.
Press play, but there’s still noises downstairs. This time it’s louder. She’s opening her door and quickly shutting it loudly. He goes down again. “Eleanor, stop messing with the door or I’ll have to lock it.” She doesn’t. So he locks her door and comes back up. Press play.
This time, she’s not talking, she’s not yelling. She’s crying for Mommy! How could I resist?! I go down to her room, snuggle up with her in bed. We talk, I listen to her thoughts about the day. It was so sweet and lovely. We snuggle for 20 or 30 minutes.
Eventually I say, “I am so tired. It’s been a long week and Mommy needs to go upstairs and go to my own bed.” She protests “Mommy, don’t leave me. I’m so sad about you going up stairs. I will cry and cry and cry” So I kiss her goodnight and leave the room.
It’s 10:37pm. How is she not asleep already? I get back into range of the monitor and hear her screaming and bawling, crying out for me, “Mommy, mommy, mommy, I need you. I miss you that you went upstairs. Pleeeeease, Mommy!!! Please!?”
How can I lay here and not go to her? She’s exhausted and I know that going back into her room will only cause a repeat performance. BUT, why is doing the best thing for our children sometimes the hardest thing for me?
It’s 10:41 and she’s asleep.
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