What to do, what to do

A few weeks ago, a choice was thrust upon me: Keep Emily's nap time or keep her bed time.  I tried both and instantly saw the advantages and disadvantages to either decision.

Once Ben quit his night/weekend job, I made the life altering decision of taking away her nap time.

It has been two weeks and I have already eaten forty times my weight in chocolate. I knew I enjoyed the quiet time while she slept, I just didn't realize it also kept me sane.

While this isn't the ultra positive (snicker snicker) post I try to write on Wednesdays, it is real.  And, heck, I'm not ashamed to admit I am this close to locking my little girl in her room for the whole day.  By 2 I have already texted Ben 1 million times asking him why I can't move her bedtime to 3.

Still, once 6 rolls around and we have tucked the babes in bed, I am glad I made the change.

At least until 9 am the next morning.

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Just Go to Bed!

As a teenager, I told my mom my future kids would go to bed at 7 every night so I could have time for myself and time with my future husband.  She told me, "Don't count on it."

My mother should have known that my stubborn nature--and natural resistance to authority--would dictate that I keep my promise.

Naturally, times change and, with it, bedtime.  A couple days after last year's Fall time change, I realized the necessity of changing my own schedule to match my children's new bedtime and rising time: 6 pm and 6:30 or 7 am respectively.  While it might seem extraordinarily early to put kids down at 6, it meant happier children and I was determined to cut back on fussiness.  (Aren't we all?)

I believe this taught me an important lesson: While routines are excellent sanity savers, I must learn to be flexible.

Recently, Ben's work schedule changed drastically after he quit one of his jobs.  He no longer works nights and weekends and is actually home to help feed, bathe, and put the babes into bed.  With this development, once again I needed to alter our (meaning the kids' and mine) schedule to be more conducive for Ben's new work schedule.  I still haven't figured out a perfect routine but I know that in time we will figure it out.

As positive as this sounds, I will admit my continued love of an early bedtime.  Honestly, by 5 pm I am ready to say "good night" to my beloved children.  My psyche can only handle so much screaming (Emily's new mode of exerting authority).

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