has turned into a monster to put to bed every evening. It has been taking almost 2 hours for him to fall asleep from the time we take him to bed. I don't know what to do anymore. I have tried reasoning with him, tried taking away priveleges, tried giving rewards...nothing works. Tonite it all culminated in a huge screaming match, me loosing my temper and him getting a dab of soap in his mouth for screaming (not crying screaming- screaming evil like all while kicking his door and throwing stuff off his dresser). He took that like it was nothing (well he said "its so gross mommy" and "it make micah sick" but he did finally go to sleep within minutes of that episode. I don't want to do this. I hate myself for it- I feel like such a horrible mother but I really don't know what to do.
He has a regular bedtime, is sleeping great through the nite and takes long naps. He isn't scared, we have hugs and kisses, pray most of the time and if he asks we have a story. what am I doing wrong and how can I make this a less stressful time for all? Please offer any and all advice- I am at my wits end.
He has a regular bedtime, is sleeping great through the nite and takes long naps. He isn't scared, we have hugs and kisses, pray most of the time and if he asks we have a story. what am I doing wrong and how can I make this a less stressful time for all? Please offer any and all advice- I am at my wits end.
10:58 AM
Been there....I can feel your pain. Mackenzie is so hard to discipline...we have tried everything, including soap and she doesnt care. When she went through the bedtime issues, we finally just said, okay, you can stay up as long as you want. She stayed up for a few days until like 11pm and then that was it, she got it out of her system. Its all about the power struggle! You are doing great and are a great mom!!!!
1:58 PM
I completely agree that it's about the power struggle. McKenna looks for every excuse in the book to get up and has figured out that the one thing we WILL let her get up for is to try to potty. I mean, what can I do if she says she has to go right? So now we set the timer and tell her she can stay up until it beeps and then after that, that's it. She gets so angry when I tell her that time is up. But I can't let her stay up forever pretending to try to go potty. So in bed, light off, eyes closed and no matter what Mommy is NOT coming back in. And I don't. And I make sure she knows that I am serious. There are no if, ands or buts. I will not come back in her room so she'd better just close her eyes and go right to sleep until morning. She then understands that it's pointless to ask for anything else at that point because she won't get it. If she sees me getting worked up over her getting worked up, then she keeps it going. But if she gets a quiet, calm, almost bored response from me then she gives up. I don't know if the same will work for Micah. But I feel your pain. It's so hard when they get like that and it's hard to remember that it's normal and that you're not a bad mother. We all wonder the same thing when our kids do it too! So don't worry about that! You just keep plugging along and try to remember what Dr. Phil says "Why are you letting a 2-year old run your household?" That's what I have to tell myself whenever I realize I let McKenna get me worked up.
9:56 AM
these girls leave GREAT advice! i'll need to archive it so that i remember it in about 10 months or so! :)