As the Toddler World Turns

Family dynamics are an evolving, living, moving reality.  And, as our toddler dynamics go, we are taking a turn in a not-so-pleasant family dynamic.

Little Maren seems to have turned a new leaf that has left me struggling to adjust.  She has never been a great sleeper, but lately, the bedtime/nap-time routine has become traumatic.  She doesn't want to put on pajamas, she won't let us touch her teeth, she thinks she needs four glasses of milk, and twelve songs, and even if we give what she asks for, most every night she screams for an hour once she is in the bed and the lights are out.  About four nights in seven, she also wakes up around three in the morning, mad, thirsty, and not a bit sleepy.  We circle the house, we sing songs, we get milk, and then I pass out on her floor exhausted praying she will just give it up and close her eyes.  Sometimes we repeat our cycle again at four in the morning.   

She and Ezra share a room and miraculously, Ezra is sound asleep within the first five minutes of her bedtime screaming banter.  (Bless him!  He has always been an awesome sleeper.)  And, most of the time, he sleeps through the middle-of-the-night vigils too.  But, of course, he is up and perky at 6:30 or 7 am, well rested, and interested in having breakfast with me and Maren.  Maren gets woken up earlier than she ready for, and the over-tired emotional toddler has a rough day too...again and again.

The good news is it's summer, and we have had lots of cousin time, and pool time, and park time, and children's museum time, and ice cream time, which equates to a few hours every day of quality distraction.  The other good news is these cycles are just that--cycles--and we will move on to some new, uncharted challenge sooner than later.  So, in a nutshell, we aren't getting a lot of quality sleep over here, but we are soaking up our share of Vitamin D, and consuming a good deal of ice cream.  Huzzah for summer!