TwinkleToes’ Bedroom
For those not familiar with the story, we worked it so that TT got her bedroom for Christmas. I was hoping that the build up to it, and the excitement of her getting it as a present, would maybe help out with the fact that she would (finally) be sleeping alone in a room by herself. So, we let her help pick out curtains and bedspread and furry rug and lamp and sheets and wall color and other accessories.
RK and I painted it a few weeks ago, and it’s been off limits to her since we painted. She saw it all put together (bedspread and curtains and throw rug and everything else) on Christmas morning. And she loved it. Loooovvvveeeddddd it.
Said with a huge hug and exuberant kiss, “I wike my woom, mommie. I can seep in it tonight?”
To which I answered, “Yes, you get to sleep in your new room tonight.”
And the best part of all? I tucked her into bed that night and she went to sleep, and didn’t wake up until the next morning. I was prepared to stay in there with her until she fell asleep, but when I tucked her in, she gave me my hug and kiss and dismissed me “Dis my room, I go seep now by seff wike sissy”.
Well, okay then. So I went to my room and kept an ear out in case there were problems. But there weren’t. This wasn’t us convincing her she could do it, this was her telling us she was going to do it. Very cool.
Since then things have gone mostly well. I say mostly well because TT quickly started taking advantage of her new found freedom. The second morning she woke up, she had on different pajamas than the ones I’d put her to bed in. I asked her about it, she said she didn’t like those pajamas, she wanted the Abby Dabby pajamas, not the Pwincess pajamas. I told her once she goes to bed she can’t just get up and change pajamas, she has to stay in bed unless she needs to go potty or unless something is wrong, and then she should come to our room and wake mommy and daddy up so we can help with whatever is wrong. (As a side note, she had actually folded and put the princess pajamas back in the drawer. She’s keeping her new room clean without having to be told to do so. I don’t really mind that she changed pj’s, I just don’t like the idea of her up and wondering around without supervision.)
As I was putting her to bed the next night, after making sure she was happy with the pajama choice, I fluffed her pillow. Only to find a treasure trove of toys under the pillow. I confiscated them and then went and confiscated the security camera
What did I catch TT doing before she knew about the camera? Let’s see… there was the tumbling around in bed (beautiful somersaults, BTW), the jumping on the bed (with way too much airspace between bed and TT’s feet), and just general goofing off instead of laying there and going to sleep. She even had her small flashlight out one night so she could read a book. She tried that again once she knew about the camera, but did it tucked under the blanket, not realizing the light would show through the blanket, I guess. I’m still not sure where she stashed the flashlight and book, they weren’t under the pillow when I tucked her in, so I’m guessing she had them under the blanket or maybe behind stuffed animals on the other side of the bed. I’m pretty sure GG didn’t plan ahead this well when she was three-going-on-four.
Last night when I put her to bed she did not have socks on. This morning she had her blue and pink striped socks on when I woke her up. She must have awakened after I went to sleep and got up to put socks on. I asked her if her feet got cold and she said, “no, deeth are my pwetty socks”. We talked again about how she can get up to go potty, but she can’t get up to change clothes, or to play, or to put her pretty socks on.
So, the issue is not that she doesn’t want to go to bed in her room. The issue is that she is having way too much fun at night in her room. But you know what? I’ll take it.
On a more serious note, I didn’t want to do it at first, but I think we’re good now for a fire drill. I’ve heard of too many stories of kids who get scared and hide when they awake to smoke and the fire alarm in the middle of the night. So, we’ll set the alarm off and then practice meeting at the top of the stairs and going outside together.
January 6th, 2009 at 5:52 pm
I love TT’s determination. Your little on is going to go far in life. After having a child who would not stay in her bed at night when she was TT’s age, I envy you. We would find her sleeping on the couch, and once, on the foot of our bed! And GG, she is really looking out for her little sister!
January 6th, 2009 at 6:13 pm
Oh my gosh, that is so cute I told my husband the whole story. Too funny.
January 6th, 2009 at 6:14 pm
I’m very impressed at her ingenuity. Gave me a good chuckle this afternoon! :)
Sarah 3/1/06
January 6th, 2009 at 6:25 pm
That’s one bright little girl. We have to bite the bullet and put our daughter in a bed. She sleeps fine in her crib, and she’s too tiny to climb out. She likes her crib, and I like knowing she’s contained since she can open doors now. Yet I know it’s past time to transition her.
January 6th, 2009 at 7:01 pm
RQ~ Take them to a local Fire Dept. and ask if they can see what a fire fighter looks like in his gear. I’m a Director of a small preschool and we have the FD come in twice a year in regular clothes and have the kids watch them dress in full gear so they can see what a fireman will look and sound like when they are fighting a fire. It is amazing! Many kids see firefighters in gear during a fire and they look and sound scary so they will hide from them and perish. It’s great to have a family plan in case of emergency and to know where to all meet up away from the house.
January 6th, 2009 at 7:39 pm
TT’s preschool had the fire dept come out and spend some time with them. TT still has the plastic hat they gave her.
January 6th, 2009 at 9:22 pm
Glad to know that someone else’s child does this! I have put my 3 yr old daughter to bed in her pjs and with 1 toy only to check on her a few hours later and discover:
1. Her complete My little Pony collection surrounding her.
2. Various dress-ups on over her pajamas
3. Her totally naked (before she was potty trained)
4. Various book open like she has been reading them (How, when there is no light in her room?)
5. A picnic for her teddys all set up at the end of her bed
6. A different blanket to the one I tucked in.
7. Her asleep upside down, side ways or on the floor
8. The entire contents of her wash basket in bed with her (yuck!)
What gets me is how my usually noisy, clumsy daughter manages to do all this in complete silence! I have thought about getting a moniter but fear it might drive me completely insane.
January 7th, 2009 at 12:34 am
Absolutely hilarious! Can’t wait until it’s my turn!
nancy
3.14.06
January 7th, 2009 at 10:03 am
What a kid RQ! Her antics made me laugh, DH too. And Little Miss GG is holding her own too. Imagine telling her sister about the camera and all? Good sister, good sister.
January 7th, 2009 at 1:17 pm
My 4 yr old, going on 5, has been mischievious at bedtime ever since getting her bed 2 years ago. If she’s had a nap of some sort, it’s even worse. I usually let her play it out for a short time, then tow the line. Last night she yelled “I’m scared”. We’ve found that this usually means “I don’t want to go to sleep”. Next I heard her singing “Believe” from Barbie’s Diamond Castle, and before I knew it, she was asleep.
January 7th, 2009 at 4:26 pm
Hi Hoosier Baby,
re: transition to toddler bed, if she is not attempting to climb or jump out of the crib, don’t do it! We made the switch after 3 vaults over the side of the crib, at approx 2.3 years of age, and our now almost 3.5 year old is a mess at bedtime. The bedtime drama escalated gradually and then suddenly, to Orange, (to borrow from the TSA alert system). We are trying all the recommended techniques, and all I can say is our DD is one persistent (to put a positive spin on this) little girl.
We have arrived in the terrible 3’s, which started a bit before she was 3, and it has been challenging. My paternal grandmother had 7 children, and I have no idea how she ever managed it! I wish she were still here so I could ask her : ) !
Anyway, just from our experience, I wouldn’t rush it. just my 2 and a half cents.
June
January 7th, 2009 at 4:38 pm
RQ,
I was ROTFLMAO at TT’s antics too!.
We have had some similar goings on, for instance last night, even though the kiddie gate was in place at her door,
she put many of her stuffed animals over the gate and onto the floor outside of the room. She also deposited some of her socks and tights in a row against the gate. said she was setting up her store.
The funny part is that the gate is just leaning against the door frame, it’s not locked. She knocks and taps on it to get our attention, so she knows that it gives, and she could easily move it aside or knock it over. I guess this is some progress, since she understands that she is not to leave her room, but then the ‘games’ begin!
TT was very clever to turn the camera towards the wall, and I love how GG clued her in to Mommy and Daddy’s surveillance system.
To do list: practic fire drill! Thank you!
January 7th, 2009 at 5:56 pm
We are so there too! (well x2).
Nap is by far the worst and we found all of their baskets emptied of clothes and them using them as a drum set last week! (instead of a dresser we have an open shelving system with easy to move baskets that they can easily access — big mistake :-)
The fire drills are a great idea, but I just wanted to remind everyone that firemen come when there are accidents too. My really good friend was recently t-boned by a guy who ran a red light at 55 mph. He was with his 4 year old daughter who was uninjured during the crash. My friend was knocked out and his daughter was pulled out of the car by firemen in full gear (minus the breathing stuff). She was very scared. Ever since this, we’ve been making a big deal about fire trucks and how firemen are helpers just in case.
BTW.. my friend was ok and though he had some internal injuries he didn’t require surgery. He’s now very indebted to his car manufacturer and swears by their great engineering. (its a very common Japanese manufacturer — hybrid sedan)
January 7th, 2009 at 8:57 pm
When I read RQ’s synopsis of TT’s bedroom and what all she has done I couldn’t help but visualize a great children’s book being made from her descriptions (which were awesome) about a little girl’s new bedroom. What a smart little cookie TT is!
January 7th, 2009 at 9:54 pm
Sorry to go off topic but a had received an email from Nickjr.com and they have another great DVD from Ni Hoa Kai Lan for sale.
Ni Hao Kai Lan: Celebrate with Kai Lan DVD
January 9th, 2009 at 2:03 am
That was so funny! Unfortunatley you gave me a glimpse into my own future. My 2.5 y.o. sounds a lot like TT. Flashlight and books already, what next? Looking into a camera and monitor tomorrow.