The Daily Nusz

Remember the despair that I tried to convey in my last post?  Born of exhaustion and shame?

Well.  It’s gone.  I’m well-rested and confidence in my parenting abilities has been reestablished!

How?  Why?

Well, unlike “Operation Nippy Removal“, this plan worked.

I left work, drove like mad to Target, and purchased an alarm clock/radio.  That evening, prior to putting Declan to bed, all of us “practiced”.  Savannah, Kevin, and I layed on the floor in Declan’s room as he watched.  I turned on the radio and we all sat up, saying things like “It’s awake time!  It’s time to eat breakfast!”.  Then, I’d turn off the radio and we’d all lay down as if we were sleeping.  After a couple of practices, Dec totally understood the process.  When the radio went on, he’d call, “Mommy, time to wake up!”, etc.

Kevin was skeptical about this plan.

Since Declan had been waking up around 5:45 am, I set the alarm for 6:30 am the first morning.  Prior to bed, I turned the monitor way down and took a sleeping pill (this greatly enhanced my ability to sleep through 45 minutes of crying the next morning).

Day 1:  Alarm set for 6:30 am.  He awoke at 5:50.  I let him cry until 6:30.  As soon as the alarm went off, I hurried in there and said, “Your music is on?  It’s time to wake up!  Time to eat!”.  His sobbing immediately ceased and a huge grin took over his face.

Day 2:  Alarm set for 6:30 am.  He slept until 6:30 and the alarm woke him up.  Damn.

Day 3:  Alarm set for 6:30 am.  He slept until 6:15 am, and we heard him playing quietly in his crib.  When the alarm went off, he called, “Mommy!  Awake time!”.  Much praised ensued.

Day 4:  Alarm set for 7:00 am.  Awoke at 6:50 am and played quietly (Please note:  not only is he NOT crying, but he’s actually sleeping later!).

Day 5:  Alarm set for 7:30 am. Once again, he awoke slightly earlier and played quietly.

Day 6 – Day 9:  Repeat.

Day 10-Day 13:  Went to Washington, DC.  Declan slept in the same room as me.  When he awoke, I’d bring him into bed with me and he’d sleep until 7:30 am.  Pro:  still sleeping later; Con: sleeping in my bed.  We were afraid that we had undid all of our progress.

Day 14:  Back at home.  Prior to going to bed, Dec pointed to his alarm clock and said, “Awake time!”.  The next morning, he awoke prior to his alarm and played loudly until his alarm went off.  Phew.  I think it’s going to be okay.

Well, it’s working!  I may have broken him, but I least I fixed him . . . I hope.

Super Mommy . . . up, up, and away!