Sleep

So, it seems that both of my children have given up sleeping like normal people in favor of some preschooler rocker lifestyle. I’m trying to maintain perspective, and I know that in the grand scheme of things “this too shall pass” . . . it always does. Fortunately, I’m aware enough to know this, and go with the flow . . . even if that means sitting up with one or both of them until they self-destruct and fall asleep on the living room floor at 10:45 p.m. 

Interesting tidbit many parents (and experts) would be shocked to learn: You actually cannot “make” someone go to sleep. Really. What you CAN do for young children, however, is create an environment in which sleep is a pleasant alternative at the appropriate time of day. This doesn’t always work, as evidenced by the last week at our house. It’s not their fault. They get off routine just a little bit and they get all out of whack. It’s my job as a parent to help them get readjusted. I am not succeeding at this presently. I know there are camps out there who would advocate myriad “tough” ways to get through this . . . and in general I feel kind of bad for them, but that would be a whole new post. 

My plan for my own children this week is to look for better ways to wear them out during the day, and try to encourage a better sleep routine over the course of the next few days. Neither of them nap, so that is not the problem. It’s been incredibly hot here lately, and so we haven’t been spending as much time playing outside. Plus, the older one missed a day of school last week, which always throws her off. (And of course the younger one just follows suit.) But Mondays are great for implementing a new idea, so we shall see. Wish us luck.