Dear Blog Readers:
Please excuse Cari’s absence from the blog. She regrets that she will be unable to regale you today with fascinating tales involving toddler-wrangling and novel-writing and tomatoes that won’t fucking ripen. Last night the toddler in question combined his recent habit of resisting sleep until 10:30 with waking up at 3am, wide awake and ready to play. Said toddler then stayed stubbornly wide awake until 5:30 am. And woke up quite happy at 8:30 am. Cari did not wake up quite so happily. Cari is not happy today. Cari’s eyes are burning and her head weighs 3,000 pounds and she wants to sit quietly and weep into her vat of coffee.
Alas.
Ever the optimist, she has high hopes of sleeping tonight. Or perhaps tomorrow night. And a blog post shall follow.
Until then, be well and cherish your sleep.
Sincerely,
Cari’s Best Foot Forward
*Truly* adorable when you’re not the one who has to do the wrangling 😉 Hang in there!
*Truly* adorable when you’re not the one who has to do the wrangling 😉 Hang in there!
Clearly the reason why I have an indoor/outdoor cat and no children. I can throw Luna Kitty’s furry butt out the door when she decides to throw a party at 0400. That sort of thing is frowned upon with toddlers.
Clearly the reason why I have an indoor/outdoor cat and no children. I can throw Luna Kitty’s furry butt out the door when she decides to throw a party at 0400. That sort of thing is frowned upon with toddlers.
He’s so cute and looks so mischievous in that picture! Similar to an expression that my son has mastered as well…
Sorry to hear about the lack of sleep. Mine stays awake far too late, but sleeps in too. But a few moms at the Mommy-and-Me class I attend have been complaining about their toddlers having similar sleeping patterns as Thumpers. So, apparently it seems to go with the age. And hopefully the crappy sleep-cycle will change soon.
He’s so cute and looks so mischievous in that picture! Similar to an expression that my son has mastered as well…
Sorry to hear about the lack of sleep. Mine stays awake far too late, but sleeps in too. But a few moms at the Mommy-and-Me class I attend have been complaining about their toddlers having similar sleeping patterns as Thumpers. So, apparently it seems to go with the age. And hopefully the crappy sleep-cycle will change soon.
I read the post, then thought, “But he’s so cute!”, then read the title.
I read the post, then thought, “But he’s so cute!”, then read the title.
Dude. I am right there with you. Today I feel like I’ve reached torture levels of exhaustion. And that’s WITH a nap (for me and the baby.)
Dude. I am right there with you. Today I feel like I’ve reached torture levels of exhaustion. And that’s WITH a nap (for me and the baby.)
Don’t suppose it’s really right to drug the kid…
Don’t suppose it’s really right to drug the kid…
I feel your pain – children don’t seem to have any respect parent’s sleep… fingers crossed for abundant sleep very soon
I feel your pain – children don’t seem to have any respect parent’s sleep… fingers crossed for abundant sleep very soon
Ha! You said vat!
Ha! You said vat!
I read your blog regularly – had to “de lurk” to say hang in there. Our daughter turned two in July and went from a terrible sleeper to a great sleeper and now we’re back to terrible for no apparent reason. And no amount of coffee can keep me coherent through a day of work after being awake from 2:30 – 5:30. I’m also hoping that this is a phase that will go away pretty darned soon.
I read your blog regularly – had to “de lurk” to say hang in there. Our daughter turned two in July and went from a terrible sleeper to a great sleeper and now we’re back to terrible for no apparent reason. And no amount of coffee can keep me coherent through a day of work after being awake from 2:30 – 5:30. I’m also hoping that this is a phase that will go away pretty darned soon.
Oh I feel for you!
You know, that looking all cute and adorable the next day is a survival tactic. You won’t be quite so tempted to set them free when they look that cute. 🙂
Oh I feel for you!
You know, that looking all cute and adorable the next day is a survival tactic. You won’t be quite so tempted to set them free when they look that cute. 🙂
Been there, done that and blew my nose in the t-shirt…but that doesn’t help you, does it?
How about the fact that even if they don’t outgrow the habit, they do grow up. Mine still does that, but he’s 20 and I don’t have to get up with him.
Been there, done that and blew my nose in the t-shirt…but that doesn’t help you, does it?
How about the fact that even if they don’t outgrow the habit, they do grow up. Mine still does that, but he’s 20 and I don’t have to get up with him.
Hate to propose this idea – but he might be ready to give up the daytime nap. (!) some kids do at that age – it’s hard on the parents, but usually then they’re ready to go to bed earlier in the evening which is a nice reward too. also – make sure he’s getting plenty of outdoor activity (physical movement) to wear himself out during the day = sleep better at night.
Hate to propose this idea – but he might be ready to give up the daytime nap. (!) some kids do at that age – it’s hard on the parents, but usually then they’re ready to go to bed earlier in the evening which is a nice reward too. also – make sure he’s getting plenty of outdoor activity (physical movement) to wear himself out during the day = sleep better at night.
I remember my oldest pulling this stunt. It was very frustrating, especially because I still worked. We would be watching Barney at 3:00 am. This is the same kid who would sometimes also sleep 12 hours at a stretch.
Parenthood. You gotta love it!
I remember my oldest pulling this stunt. It was very frustrating, especially because I still worked. We would be watching Barney at 3:00 am. This is the same kid who would sometimes also sleep 12 hours at a stretch.
Parenthood. You gotta love it!
Is someone slipping caffeine into his food supply? If all else fails, a little liquid Benadryl works wonders – that is, if you have no qualms about drugging your child.
Love the froggie boots – my kids had them, too.
Is someone slipping caffeine into his food supply? If all else fails, a little liquid Benadryl works wonders – that is, if you have no qualms about drugging your child.
Love the froggie boots – my kids had them, too.
That’s precisely why we have the Tranquil Moments noise machine from Brookstone. We’ve been putting our short person in bed with the noise machine turned on for almost 2 years (since he started sleeping in his own room around 4 months old). He’s gotten very used to noise machine+dark time=sleep, so even on those occasions (fortunately rare) when he does wake up in the middle of the night, turn it back on and rock him a little bit, and he usually goes right back to sleep.
That’s precisely why we have the Tranquil Moments noise machine from Brookstone. We’ve been putting our short person in bed with the noise machine turned on for almost 2 years (since he started sleeping in his own room around 4 months old). He’s gotten very used to noise machine+dark time=sleep, so even on those occasions (fortunately rare) when he does wake up in the middle of the night, turn it back on and rock him a little bit, and he usually goes right back to sleep.
Oh my stars: I hate to tell you this, but Noah went through a stage like that which lasted for almost a month. Just when I thought I would truly crack up, he got over it. I hope this was just a glitch in the life of Thumper and it won’t happen again. It’s ghastly being awake at that hour, isn’t it?
Oh my stars: I hate to tell you this, but Noah went through a stage like that which lasted for almost a month. Just when I thought I would truly crack up, he got over it. I hope this was just a glitch in the life of Thumper and it won’t happen again. It’s ghastly being awake at that hour, isn’t it?
Been there, done that, but it’s been so long that I’ve long ago thrown out the t-shirt with the throw up on it. But I still remember feeling like hamburger for the first 3 years of my daughter’s life when she never slept through the night. Good luck and I hope it ends soon.
Been there, done that, but it’s been so long that I’ve long ago thrown out the t-shirt with the throw up on it. But I still remember feeling like hamburger for the first 3 years of my daughter’s life when she never slept through the night. Good luck and I hope it ends soon.
I have those same boots! They’re great for standing in the mud at cyclocross races…
I have those same boots! They’re great for standing in the mud at cyclocross races…
As we say in Québec, Ayoille…
(Actually, if I were in your situation, I would be saying tabarnak but that’s because I’m a bad mother.)
As we say in Québec, Ayoille…
(Actually, if I were in your situation, I would be saying tabarnak but that’s because I’m a bad mother.)
Been there, it’s awful. The evolutionary advantage of cuteness kicks in once again (you haven’t kicked him to the curb, I assume). Maybe he will be one of those toddlers that give up their nap young – I have a friend who went through a lot of this right before the nap went away. Tomorrow’s another day.
Been there, it’s awful. The evolutionary advantage of cuteness kicks in once again (you haven’t kicked him to the curb, I assume). Maybe he will be one of those toddlers that give up their nap young – I have a friend who went through a lot of this right before the nap went away. Tomorrow’s another day.
Oh poor you! My son is six, and has been sleeping well for three years now, but still your story made my stomach hurt. My body remembers the awfulness of not getting to sleep…
Oh poor you! My son is six, and has been sleeping well for three years now, but still your story made my stomach hurt. My body remembers the awfulness of not getting to sleep…
arg. how can they still be so cute. we have a night talker wall kicker on our hands. why is that? why, i ask?
arg. how can they still be so cute. we have a night talker wall kicker on our hands. why is that? why, i ask?
This may sound counter-intuitive, but you might try putting him down even earlier for bed. Disrupted sleep can become a pattern, just like when adults have insomnia. My son started sleeping through the night (most nights, that is) after I weaned him at 21.5 months. He just turned 2. It’s amazing that you’ve written a book during Thumper’s toddlerhood. I feel as if my brain has turned to mush from chronic sleep-deprivation (because I can’t go back to sleep when he makes noise early, and he can).
This may sound counter-intuitive, but you might try putting him down even earlier for bed. Disrupted sleep can become a pattern, just like when adults have insomnia. My son started sleeping through the night (most nights, that is) after I weaned him at 21.5 months. He just turned 2. It’s amazing that you’ve written a book during Thumper’s toddlerhood. I feel as if my brain has turned to mush from chronic sleep-deprivation (because I can’t go back to sleep when he makes noise early, and he can).
Wishing you hours of sleep 🙂
Wishing you hours of sleep 🙂
Even with sleep deprivation, you still have time to poke fun of the situation. I admire your endurance. You are one great mother of tolerance.
When he’s 18 (or 20 for my son), you will begin to miss him. My son is about to leave home and to be a considered a good, forward-thinking mother, I have to let him go. And I’m in a sad state right now, even if my immediate family does not know that.
PUT ON A HAPPY FACE is the song I have in mind with your situation and mine.
Hang in there!
Even with sleep deprivation, you still have time to poke fun of the situation. I admire your endurance. You are one great mother of tolerance.
When he’s 18 (or 20 for my son), you will begin to miss him. My son is about to leave home and to be a considered a good, forward-thinking mother, I have to let him go. And I’m in a sad state right now, even if my immediate family does not know that.
PUT ON A HAPPY FACE is the song I have in mind with your situation and mine.
Hang in there!
No wonder sleep deprivation is used as torture – it is pure hell. My daughter was a no-sleeper and there were times when I was far from sane! I know it doesn’t seem likely right now, but some day you will look back at this time and remember the cuteness more clearly than the lack of sleep. My daughter is 16 now, and sleeps all day(and parts of the night as well…) if I let her. (Me hooking up with a snorer with no hopes of outgrowing the noisy nights is not something I can blame her for…?!?)
So hang in there, you will eventually be able to sleep again, and really appreciate it too 🙂
No wonder sleep deprivation is used as torture – it is pure hell. My daughter was a no-sleeper and there were times when I was far from sane! I know it doesn’t seem likely right now, but some day you will look back at this time and remember the cuteness more clearly than the lack of sleep. My daughter is 16 now, and sleeps all day(and parts of the night as well…) if I let her. (Me hooking up with a snorer with no hopes of outgrowing the noisy nights is not something I can blame her for…?!?)
So hang in there, you will eventually be able to sleep again, and really appreciate it too 🙂
Jeesh, I think there is something going on with the moon or the weather. Our kiddo is waking up every 2 hrs (at 14 m.o.) even though she used to go for at least four or five. Three other friends have mentioned similar sleep wackiness this week. And there is never enough coffee to fix that oogie feeling.
Here’s hoping that there is some weird planetary thing going on that will end soon.
Try hacking the leaves off the tomatoes and draping them with plastic (with plenty of airflow) to keep the rain off, for now. A few years ago, we tried pulling the tomatoes up at the roots and hanging the plants upside down in the cellar to ripen them when the frost came early, and the tomatoes with a white star at the bottom ripened. We had fresh tomatoes at Thanksgiving.
Jeesh, I think there is something going on with the moon or the weather. Our kiddo is waking up every 2 hrs (at 14 m.o.) even though she used to go for at least four or five. Three other friends have mentioned similar sleep wackiness this week. And there is never enough coffee to fix that oogie feeling.
Here’s hoping that there is some weird planetary thing going on that will end soon.
Try hacking the leaves off the tomatoes and draping them with plastic (with plenty of airflow) to keep the rain off, for now. A few years ago, we tried pulling the tomatoes up at the roots and hanging the plants upside down in the cellar to ripen them when the frost came early, and the tomatoes with a white star at the bottom ripened. We had fresh tomatoes at Thanksgiving.
At least he didn’t paint everything.
I remember those days and am sending you a virtual hug.
At least he didn’t paint everything.
I remember those days and am sending you a virtual hug.
baby bear (25 months) woke at 11:30pm in a tantrum and wasn’t asleep again until 3:30am last tuesday night. i felt like crying all wednesday. so, what i’m trying to say is that i’m with you on this one – lots of sympathy and good wishes for better nights.
baby bear (25 months) woke at 11:30pm in a tantrum and wasn’t asleep again until 3:30am last tuesday night. i felt like crying all wednesday. so, what i’m trying to say is that i’m with you on this one – lots of sympathy and good wishes for better nights.