Kids say the darnedest things, right?
The other afternoon I rocked up to pick up Lacey from Kindy. As per usual she was jumping on the trampoline and didn’t really want to come home, so I talked to her teacher for a little while.
At that point my heart skipped a beat and I dreaded what she was about to say. Having worked with kids for a long time, I know they like to reveal deep dark family secrets when you least expect them to. I’ve heard little people declare that their parents fight at night, or interrupted sex-capades, or just the other day I heard a little boy reveal a little too much about his Daddy’s doodle before he ran off and onto the jumping castle.
I braced myself, “Lacey told me that Daddy is sleeping in her bed.”
I turned a shade of crimson {because it’s what I do best} and nodded, “Yes, he does.”
I adore Lacey’s Kindy teacher. Lacey’s goes to the same Kindy that I took the kids I nannied for, so we’ve known each other a while. She told me when Lacey needed to start toilet training {ie when I needed to starting getting my act together} and often tries to help me with Lacey’s sleeping issues. Embarrassingly, Lacey’s sleep had got to the point that at 3 years she was still sleeping with us. And instead of sleeping vertically like a normal person, she liked to spread out horizontally and take up as much room as humanly possible. Throwing in a few scissor kicks as she slept throughout the night. Fearing for his life {and his groin area}, Hubby retreated to Lacey’s princess room for safety each night.
{We also considered putting one of these on layby}
“I try to get her to sleep in her own bed,” I whined, “But she just screams.”
“So… let her scream.”
I knew I had to do it, mainly because I fear authority and didn’t want to get myself in trouble by not doing as the teacher said. Oh, and because I probably really needed to do it anyway. So that night I put Lacey into her own bed. And she slept there the WHOLE night. She didn’t even scream.
Of course, I’ve been sleeping on her floor, on a tiny cot mattress and holding her hand throughout various parts of the night. But I’m not telling the teacher that.
P.S. In an all seriousness, I actually think we’re going to be OK this time. I think that within a couple of weeks she’s going to be sleeping in her room alone. I can feel it. Finally.
It's funny how we bend the sleep stories just a little.. Sounds like she is on the right track. It will all click for her soon. 🙂 Good luck xx
I loved that story, so funny. I'm off to Spain tomorrow to give my lovely grandson a cuddle. Although I see him nearly every day (skype) I can't cuddle him and smell him. I love being a grandma.
Love that you're doing what the teacher tells you! Just be sure not to talk to much about the good sleeping through – you know as soon as you tell people, she'll change her mind and revert back to her old ways! 🙂
totally cracking me up today! Hooray for sleeping in her own bed, and what a wonderful mumma you are to be exactly where she needs you. Sharing a bed with a husbie is totally over rated, right?!
xo em
You did better than us, we ended up just buying a King sized bed lol
I'm so glad we have 3 kids, since I might have experienced similar problems if we only had one child ;-). For mere selfpreservational purposes I have learned to be consistent (I'm not sure this is the proper term ;-)) with bedtime and other rules. I sat hours at our sons bedside singing to him when he was a baby. Often he would only fall asleep on my belly ;-), a very uncomfortable sleeping position for me ;-). When his sister was born less than 2 years later he was still difficult ( and I let him be) but his sister was so sweet and easy. She preferred sleeping by herself very soon, so I let her. By the time he was 3 she had some sleeping issues, and his suddenly stopped ;-). With baby Nr 3 there was no more fussing ;-), they all go to bed at the same time and are doing fine most nights, as am I. Of course as a mom you never stop worrying if you are doing the right thing. Don't worry, you'll manage eventually. Just make sure you are comfortable with your routine, you know what's best for you and your family. Have a good night – maks 🙂
It's totally normal for a child to co-sleep at age three it is our society that has decided that this is a problem.
I can tell you there are many stories we teachers hear that we don't want to hear LOL
News time can always be touch and go!
And weissbunt said it best…you know what's best for your family.
Our first born was still coming into our bed every night until he was 5. By then we had had number 2 and I found myself with 2 in bed. Something had to give! One night in sleep deprived desperation I shouted at him to get into his own bed and stay there. You know what? He did and has slept there all night, every night, ever since.
Our James would crawl into our bed around 11pm every night until he was 5. He would also sleep horizontal and scissor kick. We tried everything to break him of the habit, but one day he just decided to do his own thing (THANK GOODNESS!!!) and stay in his bed. It was a looooong 5 years, but we got there.
Mel xo
i agree. do whatever works for you and your family. we all don't have to try and live by the so called text book on how to raise our children. i would have done the same. i don't like the idea of children going off to sleep screaming despite what anyone says. it will all come together. that is what parenting is all about.
No worries. Little O also sleeps horizontally and I have, at times, lost all feeling in the left side of my body.
Oh well done Chantelle! There is no greater sigh of relief than when your child FINALLY gets the sleeping in their own bed thing. Believe me, I've been there too :o/ Love that Lacey's teacher is so involved and caring, it took one of my good friends to jolt me into action on our sleeping woes too. Sometimes you just need that little push :o) xo
Haha. This will be for sure very fun when my husband and I have kids.
I like your blog… I'm going to subscribe now! Can't wait to read more. 🙂
I feel your pain lovely, and I really hope you your winning streak continues. Good girl Lacey! 🙂 xx
I've always said you gotta do what you gotta do to get some sleep. Our kids have slept in our bed and in our room (on a mattress near the bed) over the years.
As my paediatrician said not many kids still sleep with their parents at 20 (unless they want to get on Jerry Springer – I added that bit).
Now they are 12 and 6 and sleep in their own bed all night every night (except for the 6 year old who will still ocassionally wonder in at 2 or 3 am).
I've always said I don't want my kids being terrified in their own beds at night. Little things spook kids in the dark and I don't want them to “tough it out”. They'll get there eventually in their own time.
Glad to hear it's working out! As for kids telling tales…. I used to work at an after-school care centre and I'll never forget the afternoon that a little girl walked up to me and asked “Why does your bum look so big in those pants?” Ah! I couldn't get upset, because she was just being honest but OUCH! When I got home, those jeans went straight into the donations bag!
You are obviously much more patient than me. My kids never slept in our bed at all. And when my son (who slept in a cradle at the end of our bed) turned 5 months, Hubby said, “It's time we got our own space back.”
So, Noah moved into his brother's room. And that's where they've both been since. Not even when my husband is away on a work trip do I even let them in my bed. Because then they might expect it all the time.
I obviously value my sleep too much!
(You're doing so well, by the way… hang in there! Soon…) xx
My older two were never allowed to sleep with me and are great sleepers now but I gave in with my youngest (who's now 4) and I is still a terrible sleeper! Good Luck!
At the end of the day it is whatever works for you. That is the right the to do.
Once when we went bed shopping we saw one of those bunks that has a double bed down the bottom and a single up top, my eldest shouted “Look, a bunk for mums and dads down the bottom and a kid up the top!”
I could really have used one of those cots!
Good luck, good luck, good luck, says she with the seven year old on the mattress at the end of her bed. I'll be thinking of you! xx
oh reading this just reminded me of what Riley blurted out to his teaches at kinder this week.. monday after arriving he informed them that 'mum was sick.. she drank toooo much wine!' complete with glass raising, head tilting actions – pick me off the floor please! i could have died then and there! And today he kindly told them that 'lyla did a big poo on the floor and mum said f*ck!' – seriously i dont even remember that happening, thankfully they all just laughed and enjoyed a bit of comic relief for the day. phew – i couldn't get out of there fast enough! i am scared now of what he will say come monday!
Good luck with the sleeping. xx
Thanks for the laugh.
Yes I am another co-sleeping mummy who has days where I want to scream out of frustration and exhaustion! But when I really think about how many years he isn't going to want to cuddle into me at night I realise that I do love it really 🙂
And besides, their is concealer for the bags under my eyes!
Kair x