Ok, So I've been too depressed to write. We had 4 perfectly good nap days after the whole climbing out of crib incident and I thought we were in the clear. Then Ethan decided nap time was play time and wreaked as much havoc in a child proofed room as possible. I actually caught him climbing up the drawers of his dresser!! Thank God Seth had already anchored it to the wall, but I was furious. I have NEVER yelled at Ethan like I did that afternoon and it scared the living daylights out of him (and me!). I knew I had done the right thing, but I have never seen that look on his face. I wanted him to fear the act of climbing, not of me! On the bright side, I did get a nap out of him after that. Then we had 5 no nap days in a row and Ethan was miserable, and I was miserable because I just can't let it go! He needs his naps. I finally got a short nap out him yesterday (after 3pm), but that's because I bribed him with a star on his new star chart and a trip to the ice cream store:) Ok, So I know I can't take him for ice cream every day, but I needed a way to get a star on that chart!! The idea is, if he earns 3 stars he gets a treat (like ice cream or a new hot wheels car). So I figure if I bribe him enough, 3 times, to get those 3 stars and he gets a car out of it or something better, than he'll get the idea. Hopefully...
To answer Kelly's question in her last comment, no we have not moved him to a big boy bed. We are thinking, since night time sleep is still no problem, that we don't want to throw another wrench in the system and screw that up too. Once we have nap time down again and he's proven himself a "big boy" than we will reward him with the upgrade. That, at least, is the current plan. As I should know by now, I don't have control over everything (or anything?!) and plans could easily change...
In the process of writing this post, we have gotten nap number 2 started. People, bribes really do work! He's getting a "treat" (i.e. candy) today and another star on his chart towards earning a new car. (I think he may have thought he'd get a car for this nap...oops, my bad!) Hopefully, I can explain that he needs just one more star for the car and then, just maybe, I won't have to bribe him everyday. Maybe the idea of the star chart will sink in and we'll be back on track!
That's all for now, time to rescue Salla from the excersaucer...
3 comments:
It IS a good thing they are so darn cute! I don't have any words of wisdom for you today, except to say that I bet he will get over the novelty of not taking a nap...although I never had a dare devil on my hands, so I will keep my fingers crossed for you!
Ok, now I am going to vent about something totally unrelated...why is it that when they are sick, they are a total nightmare. Instead of feeling Mommy compassion I feel like I might want to throw Gunner out with the bath water! He has strep throat and a nasty cough which means he isn't eating or sleeping very well, which means every 5 minutes he is throwing a total tantrum about everything...the latest is because I wouldn't let him take his own temperture, the one before that was because I threw out Hudson's dirty diaper and didn't ask him to do it; and the time before that was because I wouldn't let him play with my ball point pen....I could go on, but it is too depressing really! I try hugs and kisses and giving him alternatives...NOTHING works on a sick toddler!! To make matters worse, when Hudson hears Gunner losing it, he decides to join in the chorus of crying, and he is usually an angel baby....AAAAAHHHH...thank god Daddy is home and giving me a 1/2 hour to decompress (and shower, because who has had time for that today!). Ok, I just wanted to complain and vent...tomorrow WILL be a better day..please GOD!
Oh Carrie! I just can't imagine little Gunner has that in him (though it's been too long since I've seen him!). I hope he starts feeling better soon, for both your sakes. The sympathy crying is kind of cute, though. Salla does it too, and while I feel like my head might explode while it's happening, I just love how they interact with eachother. And God bless Daddies. If they only understood what that 1/2 hour meant to us...
I think you are right about Ethan. The novelty of not napping is wearing off, plus the star chart is actually working! He's earned 2 prizes, which means he's taken 6 naps since I put it up. Now I am almost ready to give him the big boy bed for being such a big boy:)
I can so relate! I guess it was about a month ago when Lauryn climbed out of her crib. We did go ahead and convert her crib to a "big girl" bed. And then 2 weeks later, she stopped taking naps!! I am going out of my mind and I only have one child. I can't imagine how tired I would be if I had two! She is just so active and being stuck indoors during this cold weather up in MD doesn't let her get all her energy out. Sean is gone 12 hours a day so showers happen when I can fit it in. So we can both hope that tomorrow will be a better day and that our toddlers will take a nap!
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