Santa's a Blackmailer

Well, bedtime was a little better last night. It still took an hour from putting on PJs to actually being asleep, and we can't just leave the room and expect her to stay in bed. However, little screaming, crying, or body tackling, so that's an improvement, right?

Our new plan last night was to allow some going back and forth and quiet play (but no hiding in the closet) until she started to wind down. But still, actually getting in and staying in the bed was not going so well. The previous night, I had finally gotten her in bed by changing the Dora Christmas book and suggesting that Santa had been going to bring Aidan presents, but had to skip her house because he heard she was not cooperating and Santa only brings presents to girls and boys who cooperate at bedtime. Last night, when Aidan started to escalate, I picked up the phone and had a conversation with Santa. It seemed that Santa was making a pre-Christmas present for Aidan, but when he heard that she would not go to bed, he said he couldn't bring the present. Santa told me to tell Aidan that if she went to bed without a fuss for 10 whole days, he would bring her the present. Aidan got right in bed after that and (mostly) stayed. I think we need a chart to keep track of how she does.

Suppose she'll be mad about this when she realizes that Santa's not real?

This morning's conversation

Aidan: (Lying in bed looking sad). Mommy, I look sad.

Me: Yes, sweetheart, you do look sad. Are you feeling sad?

Aidan: Yes.

Me: Why are you sad?

Aidan: I need candy.

Me: No, you can't have any candy.

Aidan: Please...

Me: No, but you can have Cheerios.

Aidan: (Sounding dejected) Okay....

She then refused to get dressed this morning and screamed all the way to school because her breakfast in the car was cereal with dried strawberries instead of a "car-waffle." Life if difficult when you are almost 2.5 years old.

We turned Aidan's crib into a big girl bed with big girl (princess) bedding in the hopes it would make going to bed more attactive.

Can I just say, "No dice."

On to a new (as yet to be developed) plan for tonight. Stay tuned...

Bedtime fun

Well, it finally happened. Aidan learned that she can climb out of her crib, adding a new dimension to bedtime. She won't stay in the big bed either. Here's how bed (and nap) time went this weekend:

Me: Aidan, it is time to go to your room to get ready for nap (bed).

Aidan: No.

Me: Yep. Come on. Its time. Do you want to read stories or sing?

Aidan: Goes to room and slams door in my face, blocking my entry with her body.

Me: Aidan, I'm going to count to 10 and then I'm going to come in.

Aidan: Goes and hides in the closet or behind the rocking chair while I'm counting.

Me: Aidan, I'm going to count to 5 and if you want to read stories, you come out of the closet. Otherwise, I'm going to pick you up and put you in your crib. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.

Aidan: Collaspes on floor of closet (or runs to closet if she's behind the chair).

Me: Pick up dead weight named Aidan and place her in the crib.

Aidan: Start screaming at top of her lungs and crying hysterically while attempting to climb out of crib.

Me: Blocking escape attempts physically and placing her back in her crib while say, "Aidan, you may not climb out of your crib. If you would like to sleep in the big bed, calm down and use your words. If you want to sleep in the big bed, you must cooperate.

Repeat for 20-40 minutes

Me: Would you like a hug?

Aidan: Nods head finally.

Me: Pick up Aidan and snuggle her. Get her calm but don't let her feet touch the ground. When calm, ask if she wants to sleep in the big bed or crib. Place her where she chooses.

Aidan: Changes her mind.

Me: You may change your mind one time. If you change it again, you may not move.

Aidan: Changes mind again or attempts to leave big bed and hide again.

Repeat previous cycle.

Aidan finally falls asleep while I'm snuggling her and she gets put to sleep wherever we had our last battle.

Aidan: Wakes up early, climbs out of crib or bed and comes padding into our room.

I don't know what the solution is. Leave her in her room until she falls asleep wherever and when ever she wants? Taking way things doesn't work. I took away things at naptime on Saturday (e.g., her starlight turtle) and she started handing me other things and told me to take everything. Shaming doesn't work. Firm tone doesn't work. Empathy works some, but she has to rage first and that's hard on both of us. Giving her the big bed right away doesn't work because she gets out to hide and it is harder to contain her in the big bed. I hope if we are consistent in our message, she will eventually stop the testing, but this is hard! Maybe a toddler bed with princess bedding...

Coupons

Well, this story may fall in the TMI category, but it is too funny not to share and guaranteed to embarrass Aidan when she gets older. I'm thinking it will be a good one to share when she's a teen and I don't want to forget it. I know you would rather see pictures, but trust me, it is a funny story. My apologies to anyone who is offended by the TMI portion.

So, we've been staying in a hotel the last few nights while our floors were being refinished. I was unpacking things and a tampon fell out of my toiletries case. Aidan picked it up and asked what it was. I told her it was a tampon. I figure it is best to give straight-forward, age appropriate information to her about bodily things so she learns to that they are things that can be talked about. Best to start young. And, since we are working so hard on potty training, well, let's just say that there isn't a lot of bathroom privacy at our house these days. I'll leave it at that and let you infer from the rest of the story.

Aidan's still working on some of her word pronunciation, so she was calling the tampon "coupon." I corrected her a couple of times, but coupon stuck.

Now, Aidan has had a miserable rash for the last several days. The doctor thinks it is viral and we have some anti-itch medicine to give her. I didn't give it to her early enough before bed last night, so she was itchy as she was trying to go to sleep. Now, we were all in the same bed, because we were in the hotel. Aidan is rolling around in bed (kicking me in the process), trying to claw at her backside, and repeating over and over (with the utmost distress in her voice), "Ow! There's a coupon stuck in my bo-bo."

She was so upset and miserable and we were trying to comfort her but at the same time, we were trying not to burst out laughing.

So, be careful, everyone: Don't get a coupon stuck in your bo-bo. It, according to Aidan, is VERY uncomfortable.

I hope this doesn't mess her up for life...

A sweet story

Last night, we were at dinner and waiting for our food. Aidan starts singing, as she often does these days, and I'm only half listening until I realize she is singing "You are my sunshine." It was so sweet and just melted my heart. I know she doesn't understand all the words or what the song is really saying to someone, but it was just so sweet to have her singing those words to me (and later in the evening to Christianne). I must ask her to sing it 5 times a day now. :-) She learned it at school in preparation for their Valentine's Day concert. So sweet!

Big Girl

Yesterday, Aidan had a big girl accomplishment. She stayed dry in big girl panties all day at school, stayed dry in her big girl panties (no pull up on for back up) all evening with me, and then stayed dry (in a pull up) all night, and got up this morning and tee-teed in the potty (with some coercion to do so). It was a big accomplishment and we are very proud of our big girl! I offered to let her just wear big girl panties today, but she wanted a pull up. But, this is progress. Hooray!

Aidan's reasoning

The other day, Aidan came into the room carrying her gas drops and announced she needed medicine. I asked her why she needed medicine and she said, "I have germs in my tummy."

She didn't get any medicine, but it seemed like a well-reasoned argument to me.