Game Over

Dealing with Tiny and Buba’s jack-in-the-box behavior at nap and bedtime for the last week or so was very frustrating and exhausting. Unlike other troubles we’ve had, this one seemed to consume me and turn me into the world’s saddest and grumpiest mommy. I was waking up unhappy and disappointed that the kids had climbed out of their cribs, and sometimes over their gated doorway, at a time of morning that we still considered time for sleeping. And even as the day continued, I couldn’t snap out of the yucky mood I was in. Maybe I was just too tired from waking up repeatedly at night to every little sound, listening hard and trying to determine if someone was out of bed and getting into something. Or maybe it was knowing that nap time wasn’t that far off and would be even worse.

T and I had discussed several options to putting an end Buba and Tiny’s game playing. But in the end, it really came down to just two: 1) empty the room as much as possible, secure the dresser and closet doors, and let what happens happen; 2) attach crib tents to the cribs. I was really, really, really against the crib tent option, although T mentioned several times that it was the easier solution of the two. I guess I just didn’t want to have to cage my children or feel judged by others who expressed that they would never go down that road with their child(ren). But the more the game playing went on, the more I realized that option two was the better solution for our family.

Our house is pretty small for a family of four. It was built as a summer cottage back in the 1930′s, and only has two closets in the entire house. Finding places to put all the things in Tiny and Buba’s room was not going to be easy. And even if we did find places to put all the books and toys (and small couch that got moved out of the living room so we could put in a climber), I was not convinced that having nothing to do would keep them in bed and get them the rest they need (they are SO not ready to stop napping). And then there was the issue of the shades. Back in March when we’d had some work done in their room, T and I decided to splurge and put in some fairly expensive cordless blackout shades (which completely paid for themselves when the kids started taking longer and better naps AND started sleeping later in the mornings). One has already been slightly damaged by little hands since the game playing began, and I was too nervous that the others would be too if the kids continued getting out of their cribs and we were no longer intervening.

So we went with option two- crib tents. A very generous mother of twins gave me a set that her kids had used for a while (yes, for free! thank you! thank you! thank you!), and we set them up on Tiny and Buba’s cribs this past Thursday night. Thankfully, both Tiny and Buba were ecstatic about the idea of sleeping in a tent. If they had fussed or cried, I know I would have cried too. They’ve been sleeping like champs ever since, and I’ve been feeling much more relaxed and happy again.

A big thanks to the readers who commented as I wrote about the latest of our sleep troubles. I really, really appreciate all the kind words and support and, most of all, lack of judgement. You guys are the best!