Dear Gods of Sleep,
Pray explain the following to your honorable servant, the Mother of Pitter, so that she does not have to make the trip across the River Styx into the Hades of motherhood every single afternoon:
On Saturday, she satisfactorily put Pitter down for his afternoon nap. She read him two stories in his darkened room, snuggled with him under his blankie with his bunny in hand, and he was fast asleep after two quick lullabies. This was a fifteen minute process.
On Monday, her experience was slightly less satisfactory. She put him down for his nap at the same time, following the same routine. For half an hour after the stories and songs, Pitter jumped, bit, scratched, poked, and otherwise abused his mother. For another half an hour, his mother sat outside the room at the doorway, calmly telling Pitter it was time for him to rest by himself, as he seemed unable to do so with her in the bed. It was not until he was reduced to tears and she finally–after 65 minutes of angelic voice–yelled at him, that Pitter snuggled, yawned, and fell asleep next to her in the bed.
Is there a special incantation that should be sung? An undiscovered physical switch on Pitter’s body that needs flipping? Perhaps the yelling should begin after ten minutes instead of an hour?
What does it take to get a child to sleep in under an hour and a half?
Respectfully yours,
Pitter’s Mother (not looking for sainthood here, just a remnant of sanity)
1 Comment
May 19, 2008 at 3:55 pm
Might be time for some rum…for you and him!