Tuesday, December 13, 2011

an open letter to my sleep-hating son

Dear Gray,

I love you. A lot. You are cute and funny and serious and quiet and you like to sit back and take it all in. It's quite endearing how from time to time throughout the day, you take it upon yourself to spend some time on the infant side of your classroom. Your teachers say it's because you are so laid-back that every so often, you crave the peace and quiet away from the boisterous other toddlers. You, my dear, are your daddy, through and through.

I love your daddy with all my heart. But there's one thing you've gotten from him that has been hard to tolerate.

Your hatred of sleep.

Buddy, you are smart. You are affectionate. You are everything I hoped for in a little man. Except for a good sleeper. That, my love, you are not.

Two nights ago, we ended up on the couch, sleeping, sitting up, you snuggled on my chest. This was after 2.75 hours of your refusal to sleep. At almost 16 months, you really should be sleeping through the night. And you know what? I know you can, for you did just that last night.

However, it was in Mommy and Daddy's bed. And sweetheart, that can't go on.

You know Elizabeth, who you adore? Well, she recommended a sleep clinic for us. She says the woman there is life-changing. And in thirty-three days, Daddy and I are going there to create a plan.

So, my little bear, you better enjoy the next thirty-two days of sleeplessness. Because I am grumpy and weepy and foggy-brained and headachey and not feeling well and all too reliant on coffee these days. And something's gotta give.

Love you (even at 2 am!)
Momma

9 comments:

Laura said...

Sleep Clinic? I didn't know we had a sleep clinic near us. Do tell.

KLaw said...

Please keep me posted on this. My sleeping prayers are with you!

Hailey @ "Me & My Boys" said...

Oh you poor momma. Hope he gets all straightened out with his sleep. However, it made me smile with the laid-back part. N is just like that (gets it from both me and B) and prefers to stay away from the loud and crazy toddlers. :)

Jillian said...

I took A to that sleep clinic! She sleeps through the night now! But there is some CIO and daddy will have the brunt of it the first couple of nights!

Colleen said...

I'm sorry to hear your troubles! But I have to admit I'm a little relieved, too. Flintstone is also not a "good sleeper." It's my fault for leaping to him the second he made even the tiniest sound from birth, but now, we really need to change that. Man, it's rough though.

If you find some good solutions at the clinic (and I hope you do!), please share!

Erica said...

I just read this to Peter, and he says he'll gladly develop a plan for you if you pay him whatever you're paying the sleep clinic. :) He's a little high on his horse because we recently (and fiiiiiiiiinaly) got Kirsten sleeping through the night in her own bed, and not getting up before 7:00am. It's glorious. I hope G starts sleeping soon, he sounds so much like Kirsten was.

Katherine said...

A sleep clinic! I so could have used this with my boys. My oldest didn't sleep through the night until he was almost 3, and then it was still in our bed. Now he's a great sleeper: but he's 9!

Let me know how that sleep clinic goes. I am so intrigued.

lessonsinlifeandlight said...

Oh, wow! I'll be super interested to hear how this goes! We've been using the No Cry Sleep Solution and it's been pretty great. I blogged all about it in the pages (top tabs) of my blog. It's under Birth and Baby References if you're at all interested. Good luck, I'll be following this little journey especially close :)

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