Does anyone have any advice for me....
My 5 month old won't nap. I am seriously lucky if I get 2 hours the ENTIRE day.
My 2 1/2 year old will NOT fall asleep till at least 9:30 and wakes up at 6:00.
(and I'm playing single mommy 5 days a week.)
I'm exhausted.
(please no comments like "hang it there" "it gets better". Those drive me nuts.)
Gregg said to tell you to hang in there it doesn't get any better. If Blakelee was inside to see it she would say bring Ava and Brooklyn over here. They get out of school early this week maybe they can come by one afternoon while you run somewhere. When Reese and Blakelee were little I would lay them on our bed, turn on Elmopalooza and they would fall alseep watching it. I probably should pay some residules for my sanity.
ReplyDeleteI forgot to write in the last comment Gregg's mom response to him saying he would bring all our kids to see them for Gregg's brothers wedding. She said something to the affect that there would be so many people there (not at there house mind you) and that was so far over all those passes to drive. Oh and she's so stressed. His brother is 42 and this is the third wife. I don't know why she just didn't say we don't want to see your kids, that would have been faster than her code language.
ReplyDeleteOkay so I think that you should just put Ava to bed and if she doesn't fall asleep she doesn't fall asleep. I guess it gets tricky if she is in a big girl bed but you could always put her in the porta crib if she gets out of bed. Maybe she just has to go to bed at a certain time and if she takes an hour and half to fall asleep then she can just hang out in her crib. At least you are getting the break that you need? I know a lot of times I put Lilly to bed and I will still hear her playing or talking or something for like an hour afterwards. Oh well! Even if she cries she will eventually fall asleep. Easier said than done I know but you could try it maybe?
ReplyDeleteOh and also just because Ava wakes up at 6 doesn't always mean you have to get her up right away. Lilly wakes up a lot of times between 7 and 7:30 but it is a lot easier for me to get the older girls out the door before I get her up so she just has to stay in her bed until they are off to school. Unless she is really upset about something she usually stays in there until I am ready to get her. It might be worth moving her back into something she can't get out of (if she is in a big girl bed) if you are feeling seriously frustrated. I don't know. Sorry it is so tough right now. I wish we lived closer!
ReplyDeleteNo helpful comments, sorry. And no hang in theres. But I know what you are going through. McKay only took a 1 hour nap today and he gets up at six in the morning too. If I find out something that works I'll past it on.
ReplyDeleteBlack out curtains, and earplugs (for Ava not you).
ReplyDeletethe book "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child" (can't remember the author but you can find it at the library or reserve it online). Really taught me a lot about sleep patterns in children. Highly recommended by my SIL whose kids all go to bed at 7 pm.
ReplyDeleteYou may not like this idea and thats ok. Laura gets to go to bed from the same time till the same time everyday, right now its from 1:00 to 5:00. I dont care if she sleeps or plays or makes all the noise in the world, unless I think she hurt herself, she stays in there. I do the same thing with Ashley everyday, only she gets more naps then the one. It is hard for the first couple days but then they get use to it and it makes for a much easier day for mom when we can have our own time for ourself. Ava may even come to enjoy the alone time as well after a few days. Also, same thing for bed time. Put them down at the same time every night even if they are not asleep. Find a way to lock Ava in her room if she keeps coming out and after a couple nights she will get use to it and put herself to sleep. The nights will be hard for you till she gets use to it but it will sooooooo be worth it. Especially when you are on your own. Kevin is not around much any more and I know I would go CRAZY if Laura and Ashley did not have set times where they would be asleep (or playing on their own in their rooms) and I had no time without them. Good luck!
ReplyDeletewell we have a STRICT RULE in our house that NO BODY gets up before 7. i taught them how to see the number 7 on the clock and they have to stay in bed until then or they get locked in their room. i'm with michelle, find a way to lock them in. we did it to ethan. it started with a baby gate which progressed to the door being closed with a child proof thing on it so he couldn't open it. then the lock got turned around and we lock it from the outside now. sucked for a while, maybe a week, but now it goes to bed at 7 and i have to wake him up to go to school. sometimes hes not ready at 7 but I AM so he can go to bed and read. its great. it sounds harsh but its gotten great results and he's still alive and no permanent damage done. my favorite sleep book is healthy sleep habits happy child.
ReplyDeletemy kids ask about rob every once in a while. they other day we were driving towards ASU and jaxon said, "are we going to get rob? he needs to go to school." its so funny. so we're thinking about y'all!