You may recall, a couple of weeks ago we started trying to get Liam to sleep on his own, all night long: two ambitious and lofty goals. (I asked what you would do: go to a happy-hour with new colleagues or go home to start the new sleep plan. I ended up talking my coworkers into starting happy hour significantly earlier, had a great time, and was still able to be home in time for the kids' bedtime.)
Through promises of morning M&Ms and pep talks about "big boy sleep," our nights have gotten progressively better so that now Liam sleeps through the night about half the time, and on the nights that he does wake up, all it takes is a few reassuring pats on the back and he's back to sleep.
Last night was the absolute best night ever. Liam has always cried hysterically when it's Todd's night to get him to sleep. It's so dramatic, you'd think we were ripping him from his mother's arms to sell him to the circus or something. But last night after bath, he toddled of to his room cheerfully saying "Daddy's night!" and then slept the whole night before waking at 6:15 am and calling for Todd.
I feel a little guilty, because I think what has helped is me being overworked and not available lately. Todd gets the kids ready for school, picks them up from daycare at the end of the day, figures out dinner, and gives them bath, all by himself. On the weekends, I hole up in the home office (as best I can, anyway, in a room with the downstairs bathroom and no doors) or Todd takes the kids out, or I abandon the family for the DC office. He's really been doing the lion's share of the childcare lately, and maybe it's helped Liam get a little less attached to his unavailable mom.
Tuesday, January 08, 2008
Update on Liam's sleep issues
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10 comments:
Bug's bedtime issues almost made me want to give her back. Not really, but I can still vividly remember the tension we all felt as bedtime approached. She does great now, but boy, those were some stressful times.I remember thinking that I must have screwed up big time and with no sleep, I beat myself up even more. I'm glad Liam is a champion sleeper now! Sleep makes everything better! For everyone!
hooray for Liam! (and Todd, too, of course!)
this does bring up an interesting issue, though, one which i am sure i will mangle here since i am not caffeinated enough. bear with me :)
you are currently experiencing the work schedule experience of plenty of american men, while todd is now in the throes of many women's work schedule experiences. in other words, if you were a typical american family with two earners (although i would never, ever call you guys typical since you are WAYY more enlightened than the average bears!), maybe the kids would be more attached to todd simply because he sees them more. i wonder if this is why moms traditionally are the warm place for the kids to fall, so to speak. and why this has kept so many women back in the workplace -- from a conservative's perspective, how can kids POSSIBLY manage without mom?
quite well, we see. when the roles are reversed, then dads can take that role. and do it swimmingly. dads can be just as warm and fuzzy as moms.
ok, there was a point there, but i'm just blowing it all together. bully for you guys for getting liam's sleep on track. i'll be more coherent next time...
What a breakthrough!! Way to go to both you and Todd for successful parenting.
Now, don't waste all your free time staying up late watching TV...catch up on that beauty sleep. (Says the mom who was up working last night until 11 p.m. and up till midnight the night before watching House, MD.)
Oh, what a relief! Yay for Todd - and even though you're having to spend less time with Liam right now, ironically it's paying off in the childhood development department, ie he's learning to sleep through the night without you. So, yay for you too!
MB: I totally hear you. There were many nights when I looked at my sweet angelic boy and hissed "Would you just shut the eff up already and go to sleep?!"
Wreke: I had those same thoughts. Interesting....
Nylonthread: I'm wasting my nights staying up late working. It'll soon be over, though.
Clamdamper: Thanks, man! Yay!
Yeah Todd & LIAM!! They are growing together through this you know. And methinks Mom will learn something about herself in this too. It's not easy working long hours and being a Mom. Lordy knows that I've struggled with that balance. Having a good support will be key. ;)
Congrats on all! I hope your work schedule lightens up a bit. :)
a
Shit!
When I get ome next week, I am running right over to Target and buying a 5 pound bag of Big Boy Sleep Through The Night In Your Own Bed Instead of Clutching My Hair And Kneading My Kidneys With Your Foot M&Ms.
Magical.
That's awesome that he is doing so much better! :)
Oh I hear your thoughts (shutting the eff up... oh yes)
Sometimes I wonder if Alex wakes up so much in the middle of the night to spend time with Scout. He's one of the few kids I've seen who is pretty equally attached... right now....
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