The downward spiral of a 2 year old's sleeping habits

It started out innocently enough.

We moved Ruby's pack and play into our room while traveling, to help comfort her when she woke up disoriented in the middle of the night.

And then when she would wake up at ungodly hours we'd pull her into bed with us to hopefully try and catch a few more minutes of sleep.

I guess it really started to go down hill the day we went to the Children's Museum in Portland. 

The plan was to go to the museum in the morning, leave around lunch time, tank the kids up with food, and have them fall asleep for the 1 1/2 drive home.

Instead they stayed awake the entire time, we had some trouble finding food, and I got really cranky. Really really cranky.

When we got home I piled the girls into bed with me and we all fell asleep in about 2 minutes.

I woke up before they did and had a minute to think about how sweet it was to all be napping together. 

This is the first time that we've had a family nap.

Then when I couldn't go back to sleep, I started wishing I had my phone to entertain me.

Soon after that, putting Ruby down for bed started taking longer and longer. We'd have to stay outside her closed door and reassure her we were still there when she'd start to cry. Which turned into keeping her door open so she could see us while falling asleep. Which then morphed into sitting on the floor next to her bed until she fell asleep, then sneaking out and quietly shutting her door.

You might be asking, what would happen if you didn't do that?

Well, she'd start crying and screaming. And honestly, Aleks and I are ok with that to a point. But in a house that isn't ours, surrounded by family (supportive, understanding family) who are also affected by a screaming two year old, we tend to do things differently than we would do at home.

There was one more group nap event. The girls were over-tired and amped up. I figured if we all were in bed together I could more directly encourage them to sleep. It took them significantly longer this time, Maia and Ruby were playing together and Ruby kept adjusting and trying to get the blankets "just right." However, I did think ahead to bring along my phone and a magazine in case I couldn't sleep. 

As you can see when we sleep together, my kids like to be all up in my business.

Two nights before we flew home, Ruby turned into hellion. She woke up when we snuck into the room for bed. "Mommy, cuddle!" was her refrain and Aleks let her into our bed. That was a rookie mistake because once you let that kid into our bed, she's not going back without a battle royale. I had resigned myself to the fact that she was just going to sleep with us and usually it's not a big deal. However, this night she was obsessive with the covers and could not hold still. She'd cry when the covers weren't just right and she'd cry if we tried to help her and she'd cry if we didn't help her.

I'll save you the gory details. 

Basically we didn't sleep more than 2 hours in a row that night.

The next night we found ourselves in a hotel due to an early morning flight.

Ruby and I shared a bed, and again, it took her a really long time to fall asleep. There was lots of shifting and spreading out of her blanket. Enough so, that it made me think she might be OCD. Can a 2 year old have that?

At any rate, the next day of travel was tricky. Ruby didn't nap. On our last flight from Denver into Wichita, Ruby started having a meltdown on the descent. Flight attendants be damned, I scooped Ruby into my arms and held her really tightly. Within 30 seconds she was fast asleep. Thankfully, the flight attendants just happened to look at the other side of the aisle when they did their final check. Ruby slept through the landing, deboarding, and collection of luggage. She woke up shortly before Aleks came around with the car.

Aleks and I had decided that reprogramming was going to take place immediately upon our return. Our first night back was tough. Sleep training a 2 year old is so so so so so so so much harder than when they are 6 months old. 

That first night Maia and I slept in the basement.

The second night was marginally better. Aleks did have to stand in the hallway for about 30 minutes.

However, there are 2 things.

1. Last night, Ruby slept through the night and only cried for 30 seconds before she fell asleep.

2. After a good night's sleep, the horridness of the past week has already started to fade from memory.

Tonight, bedtime was rough again, but I'm optimistic that we'll rest well.

You know, eventually they do outgrow this sensitive sleeping stuff and can be more flexible with schedules and sleeping environments. But, I've realized something. Just because they get older doesn't mean I'm going to get better sleep. The sleepless nights from late night feedings or 2 year old tantrums will give way to tossing and turning on the evening of their first sleepover and Prom night.

So, if you're childless and contemplating starting a family, consider this: good, consistent sleep may be the biggest sacrifice you make as a parent.

If I wanted to make this a happy ending I would put a picture here of my adorable cherubs and tell you that it's worth it. 

And it is. 

And it also sucks. 

But, if it wasn't hard, it wouldn't be a sacrifice. And when it comes down to it, I love my kids more than I love sleep.

I think...