Not perfect, but better.
Let me touch on some things from last night. I went in to check on him after I posted last night. I just needed to see the peacefulness. He had eaten about 2/3 of his cereal bar, and was laying on the other piece. I tried at first to move him to get it so that it didn't get smashed into his sheet and quilt, but I was so afraid to wake him that I just left it. I returned some items to his bed that had obviously been tossed out at some point during the screaming that had occurred earlier. Then, I stood over his bed and just stared at him for a while. I prayed over him, prayed for myself, and to be honest shed a few tears.
I had some photos to edit so I was at my computer for a few hours after he went to bed. When I got ready to go to sleep myself (about 12:30) I poked my head back into his room to get another look and that sweet boy. At that time I did manage to get the cereal bar piece - no worries. I went to bed feeling pretty crummy. I had a huge knot in my stomach. I fell asleep while praying about it all.
TODAY -
I woke this morning to find a few e-mails and comments from some readers with encouraging words - THANKS!
I went into his room to wake him, and he was sound asleep. He is usually up before me! I know the events of last evening wore him out. I was scared to wake the sleeping dragon! He was fine when he woke up.
The rest of the morning went pretty well - a few "NO"s, but not too bad. He did manage to just go with the flow when the "NO"s didn't falter my ways. He was so sweet in the car on the way to daycare and asked so politely, "Mama, may we get donuts, please?" Considering that this boy has (as far as I know) only had donuts like twice in his 2 1/2 years in existence. So, since we were running a bit ahead of schedule (which never happens) we stopped and picked him up some donut holes - and got a few to share with his friends at school. How could I say no?
After school I made a point to ask his teacher how the song about monkeys in trees went. She explained it to me, and we sang it this evening.
And because I fear that some of yesterday's events were because he was tired, I had planned on getting him to bed a bit early this evening. Well, that didn't happen. But he went to bed (about 45 minutes late) with almost no conflict at all. He did start to fuss when I first mentioned that it was time for bed, but by the time we got to his room he was fine. We sang a few songs (including the monkeys in the trees song that I learned today!) and then he laid right down in his bed. I sang two or three more songs while he was in bed, said our good nights and I love yous, and walked right out of his room.
As I came into the living room to turn on my computer to update this blog, he was in his bed reciting (the best he could) the words to one of his favorite books, Plaidypus Lost. He is now quiet and I assume asleep.
Thank you to the folks who sent kind, encouraging words - I needed them and they did a world of good. Thank you to those who prayed for my peace of mind and my spirit - it did a world of good. I know there will be more days like these past few, but I will survive the TWOS and THREES!
4 comments:
I think the hardest time for me (so far!) was from 18-36 months. He is trying to establish more independence...simultaneously testing the boundaries. Be strong, Momma. Be consistent. Stay in the Word and pray for wisdom like crazy.
Wait .....YOU wrote the tri chi song????? How cool is that?
We knew they had one now but didn't know when it started. We were hoping some young tri chis could teach it to us. One reason we were hoping they would sing so we could hear it.
How funny that you wrote it!
Shelley, I feel for you. I was so excited, thinking that I had the most marvelous child in the world because we made it through the first two years with Megan with relatively no issues. Then, she turned 3, and I thought I would lose my mind. But then, that too passed, and now, I am thinking that a pre-teen (or a tween as she calls herself) is even harder. The mood swings, the moments of demanding total independence followed by moments of low to no self esteem are hard. However, through prayer, lots of prayer, God's help, and listening and encouragement from our friends and family, we will all survive these developmental stages.
Hang in there, stand firm, and keep praying!
oh honey. I'm dealing with time out issues currently and I loved your post. It's soo hard to understand their frustrations and yet so hard to discern what they need. Your a great momma.
Big hugs to your sweet babe.
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