All Kids Should Come with a Roll of Duct Tape and a Muzzle
@cynicalandoutspoken (4725)
United States
March 2, 2008 11:40pm CST
It is almost 1 AM and I am sitting in my living room with my avatar who refuses to sleep until she falls down from exhaustion. I have played with her, changed her, gave her more milk, and even tried to massage her into sleep and she is just having none of it...so until Winkin Blinkin and Nod come to get her in their wooden shoe it seems I am up for the duration.
I want all parents to think back to the days when their precious little angels were born. Remember how you used to marvel at every new thing they learned? Did you keep a baby book detailing each milestone they reached? Remember how anxious you were for them to take their first steps and say their first words?
Now fast forward to their terrible twos. How many of you just wished they would sit down and shut up?
I almost bought my son a shirt when I was out shopping on Saturday that said, My parents couldn't wait for me to walk and talk on the front and on the back it said Now all they tell me to do is sit down and keep quiet.
Am I the only parent that feels this way?
Don't get me wrong, my avatar is the most pleasant baby I have ever seen and I have 3 others of my own to compare her too. She is always smiling and is so happy. She doesn't even cry when she gets her shots. But when she is mad about something she lets the world know it. That girl has got a set of lungs on her to rival an opera singer.
So parents, how do you cope when your kids just won't be quiet or stop destroying everything their little monkey hands can get a hold of?
Do you just tune them out until the tire themselves out? Do you duct tape them to the ceiling fan and turn it on high? (probably not a good idea, but something I used to threaten my older ones with) Do you attach velcro to their clothes and another strip to the dry wall and stick them up on the wall out of harms way? Or are you like me and just let them get it out of their systems while you try to relieve your stress other ways like by signing onto myLot?
Please share your coping skills?
And here I thought I was an expert having raised 3 almost perfect children before this last one but it seems I have been wrong all along. At least that is what one poster here thinks about all parents who sign onto myLot every day instead of spending every waking moment with their children.
So I'm wrong. Someone please tell me the "right" way to raise my kids.
5 people like this
15 responses
@bellaofchaos (11538)
• United States
3 Mar 08
The opinion of one poster is just that an opinion and you know what they say about opinions right? So that being said .. You avatar not being able to sleep is not good. I would wait it out since she usually does sleep and then the next day get her back on a schedule like make her wake up a little earlier than normal and maybe a shorter nap earlier in the day and then have her go out in the back yard and play in the snow as long as it's safe from doggy bombs. Other than that try some warm milk and some nice soothing music and a favorite movie and see how that goes.. Take care and I'll talk to you tomorrow...
3 people like this
@cynicalandoutspoken (4725)
• United States
3 Mar 08
I think she has developed a hatred for Mary Poppins. She took a nap upstairs yesterday so I'm thinking that had something to do with her being awake half the night. We will see how today goes. It's not like I have anything better to do so if she keeps me up half the night that is just more time I can spend on myLot right?
@Deea48 (1166)
• United States
3 Mar 08
Ahhh I remember the long nights, my daughter, took forever to sleep thru the nite, then she took up sleep walking. Yikes! I use to just waite her out, once I exhausted all my other options. It is hard I know, hang in there. Hopefully she will settle down soon. Good luck.
2 people like this
@cynicalandoutspoken (4725)
• United States
3 Mar 08
We will see how today goes. I woke her up at 9:45 when she usually sleeps til 10:30 and she didn't fall asleep last night until after 2 so I'm hoping she will get her schedule back. Thanks for the comment.
@moneyandgc (3428)
• United States
3 Mar 08
Too funny! I started laughing as soon as I read "my avatar".
I also laughed in pain and knowing! My own little monster loves to stay up late as well. We normally just let her, waiting until she is ready to fall over.
Thankfully she is pretty good on most nights so I don't get overly stressed. The nice part is that she will sleep in with me in the mornings.
She is almost 2 years old as well. Right now she is in a "daddy" phase so I let him deal with it a lot. I play with her all day long, so I am perfectly content to take that time for myself and let him have his "quality time!"
My fourth child is also my most difficult. I have no idea why.
@cynicalandoutspoken (4725)
• United States
3 Mar 08
Yes my little one is in her daddy phase right now too. By the time he gets home from work she doesn't even want to look at me anymore and she is up his butt.
It is a nice break. lol
@skinnychick (6905)
• United States
3 Mar 08
First of all there is no "right" way to raise kids. You know that because all kids are different, it's impossible to blanket statement raising children. That being said- do you have my kids? At least 2 of them. My son is at that terrible 2's stage and breaks everything, takes forever to fall asleep- it's like he is so wound up he can't unwind. How do I cope?? That's a good question? I don't know how I really cope I just get by I guess. All the while I tear my hair out, sometimes cry and beg for the day to be over and my son to grow up faster than he is. Then at other times I want him to stay young. I guess I don't really cope I just deal with every situation as it comes. Time outs and all that..usually give me a few seconds of peace and quiet. Sometimes I just vent on here, it all depends on my mood I guess.
I feel your pain and can sympathize with you my dear- hang in there- it'll pass. At least that's what I keep telling myself.
1 person likes this
@cynicalandoutspoken (4725)
• United States
3 Mar 08
Yes it will pass. I know. I have 3 older examples that prove that. We go from wanting them to sit down and shut up to worrying about them driving on their own and what kind of jobs they are going to get out of high school.
Sheesh. A Mommys job is NEVER done!
@cynicalandoutspoken (4725)
• United States
3 Mar 08
Yes I do remember. I also remember my telling me I was going to have kids just like me. Looks like she was right about something! lol
@steffyhoney (706)
• United States
3 Mar 08
I could never have 4 kids. Honestly the 1 that I have that is 4 years old is a handful and a half. She does never "shutup" lol. It seems as if shes always talking and screaming or crying over something. That shirt I saw at a store awhile back, I thought about getting it as well. I never did get it. However how true it really is. I try to just keep going with what im doing daily or get her occupied into a movie or something for awhile. But I completely understand where you are coming from. And to deal with 4 wow thats amazing! I couldnt do it.
2 people like this
@cynicalandoutspoken (4725)
• United States
3 Mar 08
Once they are school aged they become easier to structure a routine around. My boys are 359 days apart so I had both hands full and one of my legs for 4 years waiting until they were old enough to go to school.
I think I did pretty well so far. My oldest will be 12 this year and she just shakes her head when the baby is being bad and says "This is why I will never have kids" lol
@deebomb (15304)
• United States
3 Mar 08
My hat is off to you. I raised 4 kids but I don't recall having any of the little monkeys staying up all night unless they were ill. Maybe you should check her diet, some times what the munchkins eat will keep them up at night. My daughters had these problems with all their kids. There was many a time I wanted to hang my kids in the closet for a few hours. When I had my second son I thought I had this baby stuff down pat because my first son was such a good baby. Well my second son was good too, but I had to learn every thing about him because he didn't do the same as the first one.. I wouldn't pay any attention tov the poster that said you should spend all your time with your kids. They need a break from you too. There isn't any right way or wrong with the way your raising your kids. You just have to use common sense and your own instincts.
@cynicalandoutspoken (4725)
• United States
3 Mar 08
All of my kids had their own issues with getting a bedtime schedule and this one is usually very pleasant when it is time to go to bed. It's just for some reason the past 2 nights she will go to bed at 8:30 and be up at 11 and there is no getting her to go back to sleep no matter what you do with her.
I hope to have gotten her back on track today. I'll know in 4 hours. lol
@SViswan (12051)
• India
6 Mar 08
My older one was a darling and never give me trouble at night...but the little one...don't ask!
We(my husband and I) have no other option than to take turns with him and try to put him to bed. But it gets tough the days when both of us are tired...and then it's usually me sitting up with the little one while hubby gets some shut eye.
About the noisy bit, it's usually only a minute or two and that I can handle by ignoring. I think that's what works best for the little one. The older one wasn't a screamer...so got it easy there too. The only time I heard him scream is 3 weeks back when he had a fracture.
@sudiptacallingu (10879)
• India
3 Mar 08
your avatar is too cute for words and specially with ‘cynical & outspoken’ written below her, it gets more interesting. And no, you are not alone. ‘coping up’ is one of the prime reasons why I am completely satisfied with having one child. I can never think of myself going back, starting from scratch you know (the first belly bump, the first throwing up, the first check-up …..). no I can never endure those days again. Feeling my baby move inside me and then seeing him for the first time through eyes hazed with sedation, I had the most exhilarating experience ever. The first time I hugged him was like being complete for the first time and from there onto so many years but now that he is 8, believe me, I am just waiting for him to shut up (at least for a minute at one go) and grow up. He is driving my up the walls, was not like this when smaller and the more he grows, the more his vocabulary grows, the more grey hairs I develop!
and if there is ever a vote on coming with duct tape, be sure to get mine hands down.
@cynicalandoutspoken (4725)
• United States
3 Mar 08
I have told my avatar from the day she was born that she needed to stay a baby forever because I can't have anymore. I think she is listening to me. She is 18 months old and 12 month clothes still fit her a bit big. There she is, my midget, that can climb stairs, turn on the TV, talk you ear off in a language only she understands, and make me smile more than anyone else on this planet.
I guess I shouldn't complain. Next thing I know she will be opening the refrigerator. :)
@slothgurl (569)
• Enumclaw, Washington
4 Mar 08
When my son was a baby he just would not go to sleep at night. It was like the minute we got ready for bed and turned everything "dark and quiet", it was his signal to start his new tricks, or sounds! AAAARRRGGGHHH!!!! I used to go crazy. My mom said I was a "Night Baby" too though. Like that made a difference. But she said she would just turn on the radio, and I was asleep in no time. So I tried with him, Madonna made him cry, as well as any other female singers, exept Courtney Love. Country made it even worse, it ended up heavy metal-I think it was the Black Sabbath album with Iron Man, worked like a charm. He would fall asleep in 10 minutes. He is 8yrs old now, and loves to play guitar and listen to heavy metal, just like his Momma, go figure. I guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree does it?? #:)
@asawako48162 (3321)
• United States
4 Mar 08
there was a comic who said.."this is why God made kids so cute when they are young..yadda yadda yadda.." well, maybe as I know the strain on my daughter and she had two boys and a girl...husband number one..with the two boys..no. one and no. two? well he took off after the second boy was born..he is autistic and a hand ful too..but then their is boyfriend who has did not stay long either..number three and a girl..but my daughter always looks so "tire" and "stressed" and it seemed to age her overnight..she is now 37..but got a goo man..a man who loves children..and is a good provider..my daughter seems to be happier and its turning out ok..as the oldest boys are teens..but...children are a 24/7 job with no time off or holidays..but that is what happens..my parents had five and i now know or understand what she must have went through as my dad never changed us or cooked a meal or ?..but he did work a lot at farming and other jobs..he was a good provider..but in any situation..its the mom who usually gets the majority of the thankless jobs..and the loss of sleep..stress? but i was told by my ma that I slept a lot (still do..lol) maybe that is why she liked me the best? lol
My coping skills are nil and I took after my dad..both of us took valium or ativan..as MOST men can't cut the mustard when it comes to this..but maybe i am just observing what went on in my life and my brothers and the rest of the clan..maybe we are just the oddballs..but you deserve a medal
@jtownesquire (104)
• United States
3 Mar 08
It didn't take long for my prior posting to get removed. Imagine that!
As for the monkey staying up...that's what I had to deal with Saturday night. Of course, I just stayed in her room with her and played with her and let her run around.....sure she got into everything and wouldn't play with anything for longer than a minute, but she eventually wore herself out. Yeah, it was 4am by then, but she did.
And.....here comes the shocker....I didn't sign onto a computer or anything the shole time! Just spend it playing with her.
@cynicalandoutspoken (4725)
• United States
3 Mar 08
So if we were to compare our differences in parenting styles, me bringing her downstairs to watch TV and run around a much larger area like the living room proved to tire her out 2 hours before sitting in her room and letting her destroy everything did.
Good thing too. Can you imagine how I would be today if she had kept me up until 4 am and I had to get up at 7 every morning. I might have been too tired to even sign onto myLot. Heaven forbid.
@gemini_rose (16264)
•
3 Mar 08
No, no and no you are definately not the only parent who feels this way, theres me too!! I have four children, 3 boys and a girl, my little girl is 2 as well and your discussion has given me a whole new list of ideas to try out on her!Duct tape and ceiling fan sound like fun he he. She is the most pleasantest(is this a word??) and happiest baby girl ever, she is friendly and mainly always happy. Everyone we see when we are out loves her,and she never stops talking, as soon as we get home she is a nightmare, turn your back for a second and she is into everything and anything, sit down for a coffee and she wants something and she wants it yesterday not in a minute so I have to get back up again, and scream, well there is nothing wrong with her lungs. She wont sit and watch tv, if I sit and play with her she leaves me playing while she toddles off and raids the fridge and cupboards or to put her doll down the toilet, and she is awake most nights from 11pm until 2am! I honestly do not know how I cope but cope I do, JUST!! But this last week I have actually found something that keeps her quiet and good, well mainly good, for about an hour, yes an hour. I fill the sink up in the kitchen and she loves to play with all my plastic things in the water! I do keep a close eye on her, I talk to her while she is in there and check on her too to make sure she isnt running the taps and flooding the place, she is quite safe. Then I get an hour on the computer!!! There is no right way to raise kids, each one is different and you just have to go with it, thats what I have found out anyway!!
@cynicalandoutspoken (4725)
• United States
4 Mar 08
Oh too funny. I normally let me avatar shower with me and just last week I decided it was time to get her used to taking a bath. She screamed like someone was trying to kill her. lol
But she loves the water. I will just never understand kids. I have 4 it is about time I admit that :)
@dtroas (479)
• United States
3 Mar 08
YELP 2 was enough for me. Just becuase you have kids does not mean that you do not have a life. So whoever is posting that. We all as parents go through those feelings. Like we said were is the duct tape..lol. We as Moms just deal with it. My first was amazing when she was little, my second did not like to sleep, or do anything unless I was right there. GOOD LUCK
@cynicalandoutspoken (4725)
• United States
3 Mar 08
I can deal with a few sleepless nights. My 3rd child had his days and nights reversed for months. Now THAT drove me insane. This one is pretty good about going to bed and getting up but I think she is just getting older and more inquisitive.
We will see how tonight goes before I pull out the duct tape :)
