Maybe it's his response to us leaving him for a weekend, but the last few days have been really hard. Random aggression, lots of huge tantrums, and a hard time going to sleep. Tonight, he is sleeping in his crib again after 2 weeks in the big boy bed.
He kept getting out of bed and out of his room. So we tried "room time," a technique from our favorite parenting book. We told him he didn't have to stay in bed, but he had to stay in his room with the door closed. At first we heard him playing, which was fine, and we figured he'd go to bed soon. But, he came out several times after that so we finally gave him the choice: stay in his room or sleep in the crib. We were really hoping he'd stay in his room because we knew it would be hard for everyone to put him back in the crib - he'd scream and cry himself to sleep and we'd sit downstairs feeling sorry that he was so sad but knowing we had to stick to the consequence.
After we gave him that choice, out of his room he came so in the crib he went. He must have been super tired because he didn't cry very long. But it still is a bummer that he's back in his crib. Hopefully, this will help him make a good choice tomorrow night!
2 comments:
Hmmmm...I thought it was THREE steps forward and TWO steps back! Don't lose faith in his ability to bounce back to his happy self with more smiles then screams. Just when you think you can't take any more, he will melt your heart with a smile and a hug.
Evan & i are right there with you. i can especially connect with those moments when those feelings of can i really do this mom thing again (if/whenever that time comes) creep up?!?! It's always a comfort to know that you are not the only one experiencing those things!
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