Last night was not as bad as I had prepared myself for. Eva cried three times, about 10 minutes each, and Clark screamed for a good half an hour. So I can see the light at the end of the week.
Thanks for your support and encouragement. This is the hardest part of parenting--giving your children no other choice but growth and independence. That's probably why Heavenly Father wasn't just sedating them for me (as I asked)--He wants us to know how it is hard for Him too.
6 comments:
it will pass Jan. It has to, or you'll go crazy and we don't want that.
Good luck and hang in there!
Go Jan go! It will be so worth it, sounds like it already is paying off! :)
I'm so glad they are creeping toward sleeping for more than three hours at a time. For your sake.
Sorry this is so late! I don't really check blogs anymore. But I did have a few things to say I guess.
I think you are going to right route with letting them cry it out. Obviously Clark is old enough to not be fed or rocked to sleep. It is probably a habit that must be broken and the best way is just to let him cry is out and learn to fall asleep alone. Interference will ruin that.
Eva, by the sound of it, is big enough to hold off throughout the night without a feed. So I guess the same goes with her. It's always rough the first week or two but it definitely is worth it in the long run. You are brave for having them share a room when Eva still wakes up. I stuck the girls in the same room when Kate was securely sleeping through the night, which was about 7 months. But there were screaming initially but I found if I went in there, it made it worse. The best thing was just let them both cry and they both eventually stop and fall asleep. And they adapt to each other's sounds and cries. IN the morning, Kate is usually talking or crying and Emma is dead asleep. It's the weirdest thing but kids are so adaptable. THings will get easier but you must stay strong and not go in there! All you need to make sure is that they are safe, clean and fed and the rest is up to them. BUt you definitely need the sleep. 2 kids are hard sometimes and lacking on sleep makes it so much worse. I know the 'bad mom" syndrome. It creeps up on you. So you need to take care of yourself before you can take care of your family!
Success! It sounds like you are on the right track.
My heart hurts for you right now. Sometimes it is just so dang hard to be a mom. Ugh.
Good luck dear friend.
I really like the "Love & Logic" approach (Book: Love and Logic Magic for Early Childhood, Practical Parenting from Birth to Six Years, Jim Fay & Charles Fay Ph.D.) There is a workbook that is great too if you can get your hands on it.
They need help learning how to self-soothe and to be independent, confident little people. That's our job as moms...to TEACH them how. Good Luck. Hopefully a solid night of sleep in your near future.
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