So, those running trips that helped put Lucy to sleep? Started working a little more inconsistantly, which resulted in me getting home all sweaty with a girl who was all of a sudden going to bed quite a bit later than I intended.
Another breakthrough, though, came about as I was just too tired to embark on stage three (with stages one & two being a failed run and laying for a few minutes upstairs). Lucy (as I was expecting) popped up in the bed after a couple of minutes and said, "I want to go in the car!"
To which I replied, "You know, Loo, Daddy's just too tired. We're just going to lay down and try to go to sleep here for awhile." It was a longshot, but I was exhausted and just trying to eke out a few minutes of laying down prior to what I saw was the inevitable failure. Lucy protested and then began a little back and forth that will go down in history (and that has transpired in a form very similar to what is below, every night since):
First, understand that my little girl does not hate me-this whole "going down" procedure is preceded by a 15-30 minute ritual of brushing teeth, changing into jammies, holding hands up the stairs, then crawling into the bedroom like lions "bed-a-RRRRooom!" then reading stories and/or a session of "talk about it." All magical, wonderful times. But then, a mere few minutes later, when the lights go out...
Lucy (in tears): "I want momma, I want momma, I want momma, I want momma, I want momma, I want momma..."
Daddy: "Lucy, I know you want momma. But it's daddy's turn."
Lucy: "But it's momma turn!"
Daddy: "No, Loo, I know you want it to be momma's turn, but it's daddy's turn tonight."
Lucy: "But it's momma's turn tonight!" (continues crying-tears are genuine, but the vocalizations are about 50% forced)
Daddy: "I know you're sad Lucy. But daddy's right here and he loves you." Can daddy put his arm here? (try to put arm around her-she flings it off)
Lucy: "I want momma!" (continues crying)
Daddy: "Lucy, I know you're sad. But even if you're sad, and even if you're crying, it's still momma's turn."
and so on & so forth. It usually includes a moment when I am told I'm on momma's pillow and I have to move over to daddy's pillow and be far away from her. She also flops her leg up on a safety bed rail and there's a little testing of boundaries that I indulge until I eventually tell her the foot must come down. Then, after I've apparently been insulted sufficiently, she relaxes a bit. After a few more minutes, she flops her little bottom across the bed and nestles against me and says, "Put a arm around you" (put your arm around me). Then, after a few more minutes, the blessed drift has overtaken her. Gornack has returned to his underground cavern, and flights of angels are carrying May Smallburrow gently off to sleep.
Total procedure once lights go off: 30-45 minutes.
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6 comments:
Good times?
Yes, I'd have to say good times.
You know how if you have a really busy day at work and you get home and your head is just buzzing? You kind of just need a couple of minutes of peace to wind down. I think it may be related to that thing in the 1950s when mother would bring father his paper & slippers and everyone had to shut up for awhile.
Anyway, I don't get that time. Either I'm picking up Lucy at school or else taking her immediately off Sharon's hands and playing with her until supper is done. Then, if it's "daddy's turn," I'll have her until she's asleep. So basically non-stop from 5:30 or 6:00 am to after 8:00 pm. Obviously, it is great fun to play with Lucy (while Sharon's cooking), but it can also be a little demanding of me, energy-wise. I really could use a nice 30 minutes before launching into the after-work phase of the day.
Oh, well, those guys that had their wind-down time in the 50s all died of heart attacks in middle age-so it's not like that was the key to vitality.
I should mention-I've been finding it surprisingly relaxing-those moments after the tears & insults have died down and she is laying there quietly. And when your 2-year old daughter flops her bottom across the bed and nestles against you to go to sleep: priceless.
I can imagine that being a fairly great moment.
As for the downtime, when we lived in Newburyport and walked to work, I would get home and just sit on the couch for 30 minutes while I decompressed. Now that I have a 30 minute commute, I find that my time in the car is really all I need. I get home and take Primus for a walk and just go from there. I find that if I sit down and watch tv, I find it very difficult to get motivated.
Wow. TV. That's so far off our radar these days that it's hard to beleive. Sure, I have a moment or two (like when I was rearranging the living room the other night and caught the Unholy Alliance). But generally speaking, it is a device used only for DVD watching, and those moments are hard to come by & definitely planned well in advance.
I can totally see the walk with Primus being a great way to wind down. Actually, getting outside with Lucy for a walk can be nice & relaxing, though she is still pretty demanding of my attention & responses. I have not found the car to be all that great for relaxing, but we have a very different commute, you & I (worth noting it would be a very similar commute, if Zephyr happened).
Bus is OK for winding down, though you want to make sure you're on top of your schedule & stops. Especially when dealing with a transfer.
Did do the bus ride to & from successfully yesterday (day #1).
Nice job with the bus.
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