Aidan is in one of his phases. Short naps. Lots of nighttime awakenings. He seems to do this whenever he is about to master a new skill. I am at a loss for what it might be this time. He has been putting together nothing short of sentences lately. He was looking at a picture of him and Brandon walking on the putting green together. And this comes out of his mouth….”Walk with Dada, golf.” Not bad for a 2 year old. Especially given that his adjusted age would have him turning 2 a couple of weeks ago and he is a boy.
What is going on for him right now, I just can’t put my finger on. He goes down for the night fairly easily just before 8pm. But then sometime around 10:30-11:00 he awakens and comes out looking for us. This awakening is fairly easily handled as we are still usually awake. A few kisses, cuddles, and back to his bed. The one that is killing us is him slipping quietly out anywhere from about 2:30-3:30ish. He arrives almost silently at our bedside. Our goal was to not pull him into bed with us, but sometimes it is just too much to ask your bleary mind to do much else. Path of least resistance for the sleep deprived I guess. A couple of nights ago he had what I would have to characterize as a night terror at 2:30. He was screaming and running to our room, and when I went to him, he still screamed and wouldn’t settle. I brought him to our bed and it took nearly 15 minutes to completely calm him.
Last night I awoke at 4am with him kicking me in his sleep. Wow…I must have been really out of it. I don’t even remember Brandon pulling him into bed. Brandon’s turn to get some rest….I got out of bed with Aidan around 4 and went into his bed with him. Aidan got some sleep, but sadly I didn’t. He was restless and just as I would begin to settle, he would kick me or something.
We have had lots of stretches where Aidan sleeps well, but these ones where he doesn’t are just an ass-kicking. My first thought when I wake up is seriously about how quickly I can procure some caffeine. I have an espresso machine, but when you are this dog tired, even that it just too much work. Especially with an extra hot, non fat venti peppermint white chocolate mocha across the street with my name on it. Thank god for Starbucks.
This is really insightful, “Aidan is in one of his phases. Short naps. Lots of nighttime awakenings. He seems to do this whenever he is about to master a new skill.” And really hard I’d imagine. Glad you’ve got that Starbucks! Some days know no other cure.
Brazelton shares your opinion on this one, have you read Touchpoints? You might enjoy it, the family I’m with now loves it. It doesn’t give advice on action as much as it gives explanations and suggestions, so I’m not saying, “buy this book and do what it says,” but “you might enjoy this, it comes from a similar perspective.” (although I imagine you’ve already read it, right?)
I have read this book, and you are right…it is wonderful and insightful. It really gives you the idea that you are the empowered parent and he is giving you insight into why your child in is a certain phase.
Thanks for the feedback, though. I am always interested in suggested reading.
Lori