Bloglessness

bloglessness (blog*less*ness) n. 1. the inability to post a blog due to a very large lack of slumber 2. the inability to form rational thoughts in text due to a toddler's refusal to sleep 3. the absence of one's cyber self due to a very determined toddler's insistence to sleep with mommy and daddy 4. the absence of blog typically caused by mommy and daddy's refusal to co-sleep and determination to keep our bed to OURSELVES

Day 11
We are in our second week of a wild ride that Isis seems to be navigating. Up until now, we have had no major problems with her. She slept and nursed as a baby. She never had colic. Separation anxiety was quickly a thing of the past. She thrived on a schedule and therefore put herself to sleep as an infant.

Something in her little developing brain has prompted her to wake up at night, panicking. She will run into our room toting precisely three binky's, one blankey, and one cup. She will ask for us to rub her back, sleep with her, cuddle on the couch, or rock her. This was fine for about two days, until she refused to sleep without these comforts.

So a new tactic began. Let's comfort her with things like a new lamp, a small night light, a turtle night light, a cup, a tickle bug, and lullaby music. Let's let her pick soothing ways to sleep like with her curtains open or even on her floor with her door open. In other words, let's allow her dictate her needs. We will listen to her and she will not listen to us. Note to readers, this is not effective parenting. In our sleep depravity we were willing to try anything but we were just making it worse.

Next tactic. Make a list of things Isis may not do at night, no matter how hard she tries.
1. You may not sleep with a parent
2. A parent will not sleep with you
3. You may not sleep on your floor with your light on (Chris found her one night like this)
4. Better yet, you may not even turn your light on
5. You may not rock
6. You do not need a popsicle or cereal for your throat (a personal favorite of mine)
7. You may not open your curtains

Make a list of things Isis may do at night.
1. You may turn on your turtle night light
2. You may get out of bed to retrieve any number of your security objects
3. You may turn on your lullaby music
4. You may come get Mommy and Daddy, but we will only put you back into your bed.
5. If you follow these rules, you may have a sticker. If you get three stickers, you may choose a special activity such as a playdate, toy, or trip to the bagel store. You, the reader, may call this bribery. I call this I would buy her a puppy for just one night of peaceful sleep.

So far, so good. The sticker chart seems to be the key. Along with precisely the right combination of security measures. Curtains shut, music on, polka dot blankey, three binkys, a tickle bug, turtle night light only on green, and a cup of water all lined up in a very precise order in her bed. Oh, and her door open approximately 2-4 inches. And when she wakes up, we put everything back in precise order and she is putting her little self to sleep again.

As I was pouring out my frustrations to a friend at church, she told me to stick to my guns. No matter how hard and tiresome it becomes, do not let that little child sleep with you. She said her family plays musical beds every night and she doesn't get to sleep with her husband anymore. I think that is sad. For parents who want to co-sleep with their little cuddlebugs, more power to you and I pass no judgements your way. But as for me and my household, we are taking back our nights.