Friday, September 18, 2009

Project Big Boy, Phase One, Take Two.

Days after we brought J home from the hospital I decided it was time to ditch the bottle.

M had just turned two.

I thought it was time.

I started slow.

I gave it to him while reading stories on our bed for a week.

All went well...sorta....

Then I gave it to him on the couch before story time.

All hell broke loose.

He went hysterical, flung himself out of the crib, smashing his head in the process.

No blood, no broken bones, two broken hearts.

Hubs and Sis weighed in and suggested that maybe the timing was off.

We did JUST bring home a new baby brother for him and his world changed dramatically.

You never saw me fly down the stairs and get a bottle faster.

Yes I caved.

Don't judge me.

That was three months ago.

Three days ago we tried again.

I saw him show an interest in a cup that had a straw and thought to myself, "Here is my chance."

I have been promoting it as the "Big Boy Nighty Night Cup".

I have every one in the house cheering him on before he goes for naps and to bed for the night.

First night, a little whimper but it was new and he was WAY tired.

He fell asleep fast.

Check!

Day two, Nap time.

SCREAMING BLOODY MURDER.

Puppy goes flying overboard.

Howling persists for 30 minutes.

I cave and enter room to save puppy.

Who am I kidding?

I went in to make sure I haven't traumatized my son again.

You see I have a knack for doing things at the wrong time.

Just last week we changed his room around and put the toddler bed in.

Maybe not strange to you but my Son is a creature of habit and routine and didn't adjust well and is still not overly keen that from his crib the view is not the same as it has been for the last 16 months.

Add to that the fact that I am working again.

And by work I mean watching some one else's child.

Just another person to take this Mommy's attention away.

Smooth move Mommy.

Any whoooooo, I rescue puppy, lie my traumatized child down as he whimpers "mooommmeeeeeee" in his most pathetic voice, and walk out.

He fell asleep.

Thank the good heavens above.

Night time arrives and I'm nervous.

We had a big day, he was tired.

I hand over the cup and say Goodnight.

Not. A. Peep.

PHEEEW!

Tonight...the fit was back.

I sent in reinforcements.

Reinforcements felt it was appropriate to put him in his big boy bed for the night.

Smooth move reinforcement.

Have we not learned from our mistakes.

Too much change for M at one time = DISASTER!!!!????

One hour later, reinforcement looks at me and says "Is that our Son?"

Me...."Fill in the blank."

Reinforcement goes up to find M in the closet.

In the dark, in the closet.

Reinforcement sent him packing back to the crib.

One. Hour. Later.

JEESH.

Day 4 tomorrow.

Wish me luck

BUT....

Don't judge me for the following:

1. Giving my child a bottle of milk to go to bed when he is almost 2 1/2.

2. Giving my child a cup of milk to go to bed.

Yes I am aware that it is bad for their NON permanent teeth.

That is just how we roll.

Someday you will have to make those decisions and they are tough to make.

And I will support you.

Parenting is the toughest thing you and I will ever have to do.

Nighty Night!

3 comments:

  1. Those who judge are just lieing to themselves. Please. Everyone does what they need to do. It's just different. not right, not wrong, just different. Maybe they go from bottle to cup at 1 but their kid is 4 and still not potty trained. They all get there, just by different roads and different speeds! xo

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  2. Don't feel bad. My almost 5 year-old still sucks her fingers to go to sleep. Sure I can't take them away from her, but even if I could, I don't know how on earth I would.

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  3. Miss M. is 3 and still gets a binky at night time. You are not alone in your suckage, my dear.

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