As I sit down to write this post, I’m in a laugh/cry mood. You know? Laughing so hard that it turns into a sobbing, ugly cry? Hilarity that turns into wanting to drive your car off a bridge? Yes, that.
Today started off like any other day. Joe got the idea that it was the right day for Abs to start sleeping in a bed. After our first daughter, I vowed to keep Abs in a crib until high school, but sure, today, at not even 2 1/2 years old, it was worth a try.
Before her nap, we set up the toddler bed we had tucked away. She got such a kick out of it and was thrilled to try it out. After lunch, without incident, she napped for 2 hours in her new bed. She woke up crying, but that’s nothing new. All afternoon, she went on and on about her ‘Big girl bed’ and seemed so excited.
I kept them up a bit later, trying to make sure they were sufficiently tired, since bedtime is rarely smooth or easy anymore. We went upstairs, and M was thrilled for her sister. “Isn’t this so exciting? You get to sleep in a bed tonight!” “Mom, I’ll help if she wakes up at night. Maybe she’ll come lay down with me.” Really cute stuff.
M went down easily. Abs did not. Long story short, she wouldn’t even sit in her bed. I know most parents go through this at some point, and I don’t think this part was out of the ordinary at all. However…
We let this go on for more than an hour. Instead of dealing with sleepless nights and midnight visits, we decided it was early enough to set the crib up again. M asked what was going on and completely freaked out.
“This bed is so dear to me.” “I’m going to miss this bed so much.” “Can you take a picture of me in the bed before you move it?” “Can you take a picture of the spot where the bed used to be?” “Can we keep the bed out and just use it as a decoration?”
And so on.
For the entire 20 minutes that it took us to reassemble the crib, she went on about the stupid bed. She is a sweet girl. She gets easily attached. No logical explanation will work. So she hasn’t seen this bed in 2 years, and only saw it for 5 or 6 hours today. Doesn’t matter. She and the stinking bed were new BFFs and I tore them apart. We both lost it. First, we tried to be firm. “M, stop whining about the bed. We understand that you like it, but Abs isn’t ready for it yet. We aren’t listening to another word about the bed.” Then we couldn’t stop laughing. “Can you at least print out a picture of me with the bed so I can remember it?” Then I got stuck inside the crib while I was helping Joe assemble it. I was holding pieces in place from the inside, and he built it around me. I had to shimmy out the bottom like a fat lady doing the limbo. On a carpet. I got a rug burn.
In the end, I sat with M to help her sleep, because she was devastated about the bed. Abs still wouldn’t sleep, but at least we could leave the room and know she wasn’t running around laughing at our efforts.
I took pictures. Stay tuned for Wordless Wednesday. It will be well worth it!
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{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
Oh gawd. Will we parents ever sleep again? We also moved our 2.5 year old son into his big bed this evening. He seemed confused, but so far has stayed asleep. We’ll see what the rest of the night brings. Hope things go a bit more smoothly for you after tonight!
Lady Mama´s last blog ..Back to life.
We have thought about putting our little guy, 2.5 years old, in a bed, but we haven’t made the jump. I hope it works out.
Pres. Kathy´s last blog ..Happy New Year!!!
This bed is so dear to me? That’s hilarious!
blueviolet´s last blog ..Things I Learned Over My Bloggy Break Most of Which Are Courtesy of My Children
Dear to me? How funny!
Can’t wait to see pics.
Shell´s last blog ..Looking for a Good Read? Some Keepers and Stinkers
We had the same thing happen when we tried Nate in his toddler bed. He took his nap just fine,but come night time we found him standing in the kitchen telling us he wanted to sleep in his “cribby”. We don’t have a 4 year old who loved the bed, however, so that part must have sucked! We just put him back in his crib that night and the next day moved it into his big boy room. We figured he had to get used to the room before he could get used to the idea of a big bed. We have to try again soon though because I have a baby that needs that crib! Come to think of it, my 2 1/2 year old may ask for his picture taken with the crib, he loves it so much! This is not going to be fun.
Kameron´s last blog ..Arielle at 1 month
It was just so annoying because we took the crib down. Totally disassembled it. But, we would have been up all night, and I’m just not ready for her to be roaming around at night yet! I hope Nate cooperates a lot more when the switch happens!
Okay, I know that you were exhausted & this was not fun but I was lmbo! We couldn’t keep my 16 month old IN her crib. We ended up taking it down & putting her in a toddler bed & then putting the door locks on the outside of the door because we were afraid she’d hurt herself getting up in the middle of the night! (We did try gates in the doorway & the door knob covers. She’d climb the gates even when they were stacked on top of each other & her brother showed her how to slip her fingers in under the the cover & turn the knob.)
One day you will laugh @ this. We laugh @ ours now. Of course she’s almost 8 too.
Sues2u2´s last blog ..Cany you say Hallelujah?
Please tell me you took pics of YOURSELF stuck in the crib somehow. Because those must be priceless. Sigh. They DO attach themselves so quickly, don’t they? If it’s any consolation, my not-yet-3-yo has been in her toddler bed for a month or so, and falls out of it nearly every night, but we’re getting there! Good luck!
Oh, and I tagged you with some awards last night over at my place!
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Brian and I can’t assemble anything in 20 minutes, so I’m hoping when we take down the crib it’ll be for good.
Can’t wait to see the pics of M and her beloved bed. And glad my girl isn’t the only one with a flair for the dramatic.
Deb´s last blog ..Out with the old excuses, in with the new
funny kid, that one!
i remember those days of the toddler bed/reassembling crib. oh yes, i remember them all. too. well.
shudder.
i totally have no idea what link i put as my website but…it certainly wasn’t mine.
melissa´s last blog ..Post Break: The Random Edition
Oh good grief…it is NEVER easy!! Hang tough baby:)
ModernMom´s last blog ..The Winner Superior Rings GiveAway
my younger sister made a bed on the floor and slept between her crib and her new bed. my mom was horrified, but it was the only place she would sleep. FOR YEARS.
Ry Sal´s last blog ..I’m on a DIET {gasp!}
Oh my gosh…I am LOVING that you got stuck in the crib! This completely sounds like something that would happen at my house. Great story – thanks for sharing and good luck!
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