Between 3 and 5 in the morning. On ANY given morning. You will hear a loud, young, male child’s voice, screaming for his mommy.
And…between 3 and 5 in the morning. On ANY given morning. You will hear a Mommy stumbling out of bed to retrieve her loud, young male child from his room to bring into her room. Into her bed. So that there may be a few more hours of precious slumber…hopefully…
Well, at my house, anyway.
So, on this particular morning. After the retrieving this loud, young male child and bringing him into the bed with me…and savoring those last few, precious hours of sleep…
The kitten wakes up…
and, I take her downstairs to feed her. (She sleeps in a cage in my room…and ALWAYS disturbs those last couple hours of sleep)
And…I hear, from upstairs in my room, a loud, young male child…screaming for his Mommy to come and get him.
So…
I do.
I run upstairs and go into my room to collect my child.
And, every morning, he plays the same game.
He hides under my covers and I have to find him. I know…sounds very difficult. I haven’t lost him yet, though.
This morning, after I found him…I told him that we had to hurry and get ready. He was going to drive me to camp.
He got a little confused.
I said…Today, Mommy is going to camp.
He looked at me like he wasn’t sure if I was joking or not.
I told him that today was Mommy’s turn to go to camp and have fun.
He suddenly got that I was joking…and he said…
Mommy…camp is for little kids. So shut up and get me ready for camp.
Honestly. How dare he speak to his Mother like this. Who does he think he is…his Daddy?
So, you know what I did? No…I did NOT spank him. No…I did NOT give him a time out. NO…I did NOT take away his favorite toy for all eternity.
I turned on my heels. I went into the kitchen. And…I prepared him his breakfast and I got his clothes ready…
So that I can get him out of the house for a few hours…and have some peace and quiet from that obnoxious, loud, bossy, young male child…
and brace myself to deal with obnoxious, whiny, bossy tween girls and boys…
and and obnoxious, whiny, bossy husband…
who are all going to be home for another week.
And then…their camps start.
And life will be beautiful again!!
Gee…you just gotta love summer vacation. Especially when all the bossy, whiny and obnoxious people are gone for the day…
THAT is when Mommy’s camp starts!! Because being home, without the chaos…is like being at camp.
That’s the way it is at our house too. He was getting better but last night he woke up at 1:20, 2:30, 3:40, 4:45 and 5:30. I actually gave up and put him in my bed at 4:45. He woke up at 5:30 to go to the bathroom. I’m looking forward to camp myself.
oh there WOULD be death and destruction at my house over this! i’m just sayin’ …
You summed up my house perfectly, but instead of a male child it’s a female child waking up at those hours. I do just about anything to get her back to sleep for those few hours! I can’t take it.
Tell me more about the summer camp thing. Kids actually leave home? And, you are alone? Sounds heavenly!
Summer camp is HERE all summer long. lol
Okay I found you, even though you didn’t email me back 🙂
You know I was being totally sarcastic right?? But now that I’ve got the new address, I promise to visit more often!
There would be HELL TO PAY! When do we leave for camp? 🙂
Woo hoo for Mommy Camp!!! Sign me up!
Well at least he doesn’t take a running start and jump on top
of you – (while your asleep) to wake you up. Yep those were
the mornings starts I used to have….. ugh!
Yep, the drama started up again here, I think mommmy
camp would be nice, hopefully next week, when activities
startup here!
When you are ready (and only then), I have a suggestion for stopping that middle of the night stuff. Sit him down (during the day) and firmly and calmly tell him, “You know how you wake up at night and wake Mommy and come to my bed? You are not going to do that anymore.” “Why?” Because you are a big boy who is going to sleep in his own bed. If you wake up again, I will not take you to my bed. I will come and tuck you back in bed ONE time, and then you will go back to sleep.” Repeat this mantra and do not offer other answers or explanations. I’m serious. This worked for my son and potty training. He was 3.5, and after I told him, he asked why, and that was just the way it was; he never wore a diaper again after that day. I think he just needed me to lay down the law (and follow through.) You’ve developed a pattern that will be hard to break (you’ll need to let him cry for a night or two), but if/when you’re ready, it will happen. Just be sure to convey confidence that he can handle it. Mommy camp starts for me on Monday 🙂