For a while we were having some serious sleeping problems in this house. If you haven't talked to me in person lately you're probably thinking "Of course you do! You have a 8 month old baby!" Well, my friends, Cordy is not my troubled sleeper. It's my handsome little Alec. He gets so worked up during the night. He hears every creek of our 50+ year old home. He has nightmares. He hears scary beeping in his ears (can't figure that one out). He has to go to the bathroom and be tucked back in bed over and over and over again some nights. Finally one night out of desperation I just let him climb in bed with me... That didn't go over so well. Time for an intervention! After brainstorming with my good friend we came up with a plan. If Alec could stay in bed all night long for 4 nights in a row he could go on a special ice cream date with JUST ME. He thought that was a wonderful idea and within 6 days my boy got his ice cream date.
Our ice cream date was just about perfect. He chatted my ear off the entire time we were at DQ, and we even made a stop at Walmart (just like Nick and I always seem to do when we are on dates). I couldn't help but be impressed by how well he expresses himself, and how much he thinks about the world around him. He's such a bright kid. As we were driving home he said it was
"the best date ever!" and "We should do this again sometime, Mom!"
That little man sure knows how to make me feel like the best mom ever.
I've noticed that a lot of Alec's troubles seem to go away when he gets more attention. (He fights less with his sister, he wakes up less during the night, he goes to preschool happily, he plays better with friends, he throws less temper tantrums, etc.) It's been a real eye opener to realize that when he's starting to get worked up about something if I can spend a few minutes with him one on one it makes a world of difference. It's too bad that with two other little ones needing my attention I can't always do that for him, but I think it's all part of learning to be adaptable.
This date wasn't the "cure all" by any means. We've still had some rough nights here and there with the little man, but over all our sleepless nights have improved.
Definitely something worth documenting.
"the best date ever!" and "We should do this again sometime, Mom!"
That little man sure knows how to make me feel like the best mom ever.
This date wasn't the "cure all" by any means. We've still had some rough nights here and there with the little man, but over all our sleepless nights have improved.
Definitely something worth documenting.
6 comments:
How fun!! These are the kind of things he will always remember. (I had to do something similar with Chase. His ultimate prize was a trip to the dollar store.)
How fun!
I'm so glad it worked! I use ice cream as a prize for my kids anytime I get the chance!
Sounds like a great plan! Love the photos of you two. You look fab Chrissy!
You are both amazing!
I think I might know what the "beeping" in his ears is all about. When I was younger, I had a hard time sleeping in my room because I kept hearing footsteps. Strangely, then never got closer or further away, but I was still convinced it was some boogy man coming to get me. Turns out, it was just my heartbeat in my ear. So I learned not to fall asleep on my side for a while and things were better. ;)
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