Tiny Talk Tuesday celebrates our children and their view of the world. They continually make us laugh and by recording their Tiny Talk we can focus on one of the many JOYS of parenting! If your kiddos made you laugh this week (don't they always), then feel free to share the humor! Check out more Tiny Talks with Mary.
I don't know about you guys, but bedtime is a nightly battle of the wills....and my will is still stronger than that of the 5 year old!!
But he's getting better....and that scares me!
He has always been the great negotiator. Even when he was a 2 year old just learning to talk. He could negotiate with the best of them. To try and navigate bedtime without so many tears, mine not his....
I decided to set a specific time frame that I would spend in his room. That time is 20 minutes! I figure 20 minutes is really long enough for him to wind down and go to sleep. This 20 minutes doesn't start till he has had my undivided attention for about 30 minutes of Bible verse review, story time, teeth brushing, 2 or 3 bathroom breaks and good nights from big brother and dad.
I explained my new system on Sunday night....and he immediately starts negotiating. Could I stay in there 30 minutes? What about if he's almost asleep, at 20 minutes could I stay a couple more minutes till he's totally asleep? What if he needs another drink or needs to go potty?? My answer each time was, "NO! 20 minutes is long enough to go to sleep and you've already gone to the bathroom enough times."
After thinking about it another minute or so he decided he'd just concede and go to sleep! Worked like a charm, he was asleep in just under 15 minutes! Last night on the hand didn't work out so good it took about an hour and 10 minutes before he actually went to sleep! UGHHG
Oh well, at least I have a plan now, and he knows I'm not open to negotiation!!
3 comments:
Half the battle is having a plan.
Yes, my kids try to negotiate. It usually ends when I give them two choices, my way or nothing. Though, they are always back 5 minutes later trying again.:::sigh:::
Stay strong, Mom! If you give in even once, he'll never let you forget it. (I know this from my own personal experience. Oh joy.) ;)
LOL...we get that too. Stay tough and set the limit or you'll fight the battle for a long time! We finally buckled down to the rules we made and boy have things improved :)
Happy TTT and hope it has been going well.
Post a Comment