Home All Posts How The 5 Stages Of Bedtime Are The Same As the 5 Stages of Death #Nightmarenightimes

How The 5 Stages Of Bedtime Are The Same As the 5 Stages of Death #Nightmarenightimes

by Author: Jade Lloyd

How Do You Manage Bedtime?

Around me was a sea of dirty dishes. Saucepans filled with cold sauce, half eaten yogurt and empty cartons of apple juice. The washing machine was whirring tiredly with the third wash of the evening. My son had run out of clean uniform. AFTER TWO DAYS!

I was tired. Shatterpooped. Knackered. After finishing work, I had collected my paint spattered son from school, ferried him to gymnastics, read, played, fed, and bathed him.

You know in the Gremlins films when they are cute, fluffy and furby’esk but then water gets spilt and they turn into evil and nightmare inducing? That happened to my kid.

The evening was filled with high pitched whinging and foot stomping.

Who else has bedtime battles?!

STAGE 1. DENIAL.

By seven o clock I was simmering with frustration. Exhaustion. The type you think you shouldn’t feel as a mummy.  Tucked in with at least 100 teddies besides them your child looks like an angel. Off flicked the lights and I managed to get all of 3 steps onto the landing until…

‘I’m not tired!’ Of course you are bloody well tired.

STAGE 2. ANGER.

“Mummy I am thirsty, I need a drink… No not that drink. Apple juice…It’s too cold.”

He promptly spills it on Pikachu. Its all my fault. I kiss him. 4 steps onto the hall.

Does anyone else’s kid treat them like a dog, or a maid? It’s probably my fault I have spoilt him, only child syndrome but I can’t face having another.

“My nose is blocked. I can’t breathe.”

He blows his nose and I get snot on my hand. I tuck him in. 5 steps into the hall.

“Mum. My label is itching. Can I have different bottoms? My pillow is scratchy. I’m hot…I’m cold.”

He says he needs to poo and sits on the toilet making hideous noises just for my benefit.  Back we go to bed.

I call gently from the hall, “go to sleep Leo.” Then just stand and wait. Because I know its not finished.

STAGE 3. BARGAINING.

“You didn’t sing enough lullaby…Teddy is in the car…Can you check me for nits? I will go to sleep if you lie with me.”

I ignore him.

Mummy I learnt a new word non-fiction. Where does the word bum cheeks come from? Is it because they are cheeks on your bottom. But your bottom isn’t really our bottom, your toes are.

STAGE 4. DEPRESSION.

The house fell quiet. The gremlin then tried a new tactic. Screaming. Shouting. sobbing.  I take a chocolate cupcake and lock myself in the bathroom. Muffled through the door I hear.

“Mummy my leg is hurting! MUUUUMY!!!”

Then after a ten minute silence, that I hold my breath for, I think at last he is comatose. Tiptoeing I slowly open the bathroom door and wince as it creaks. I climb into bed with my half eaten cupcake and reach for my laptop.

STAGE 5. ACCEPTANCE.

He went to sleep. Eventually. And I rescued my cupcake and finished it in the bath.

Am I being too soft, do you let your children cry in bed until they are quiet? Or do you go strait upstairs and hold their hand and stay with them until they sleep?

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