If you’ve been reading for awhile, you know my bedtime struggles with my dear dear son. Or better known when in trouble as: Jimmy’s son. If you’re not up to speed….you can go here and then here to get caught up. Or, even better go back to my first post ever and get caught up from the beginning. (I feel bad that my early work goes so unnoticed sometimes!) 😉 ha ha.
Anyway, things have only become worse since that post. Now he doesn’t even stay in bed for a minute. We’ve tried everything we could think of.
But then after talking with a friend, we decided to try something new…it’s called consistency. 😉 Imagine that.
It started tonight.
We went through the usual routine and put Taylor to bed. As we were saying goodnight, he responded with his usual, “What’s going to happen when I get out of bed?”
Instead of letting him know the punishment, we said, “But you’re such a good boy. Why would you want to get out of bed?” That change of answer stunned him into silence.
But, five seconds later he’s standing at the top of the stairs.
“I’m out of bed mom. What are you going to do?” (in a mocking tone of voice of course.)
I quietly walked upstairs and brought him back to bed. Then I took his pillow with me when I left.
2 seconds later he’s out again. I again very calmly walked him back in, and this time I walked out with his blankie.
I kept this up each time he got out of bed. I was very calm, very detached, very non emotional. In a matter of minutes I had stuffed a huge bag with his pillow, his blanket, his bedtime stuffed animals, his flashlight, ALL his trains, ALL his cars, and ALL his toy animals. (Yes, count that….7 freaking times he got up!!!)
He especially got serious when I told him his ATV was next and soon he would have nothing left to play with. At that point he started to get the picture.
He stayed in bed. And he stayed quiet.
So 30 minutes later he got his pillow back.
I explained that tomorrow if he stays in his bed at naptime, then when he wakes up, he can choose one thing from the bag to earn back. But, if he gets out of bed, then I will keep taking things away. My speech was this, “Your stuff is a privilege and if you don’t follow the rules, then you lose your privileges. When you obey the rules, you get more privileges. So if you want your stuff, you need to choose to obey.”
I think he got it. At least he did tonight.
We’ll see how it goes.
To be continued…
© 2008 “Le Musings of Moi”
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Good luck! Sounds like you’ve at least got his attention, and THAT, my friend, is a good start.
Great plan Mom!!! I soooo went through this with my last child and it was hell. Where were you with your brilliant ideas then???
That’s a good idea. Talking something each time. Hope it works for the long run.
Thanks for stopping by my Saucy blog.
I have seen you here and there and everywhere. Nice to comment with you.
Good luck with the bedtime problems. Lastest idea you are trying sounds good. Hope it works for you.
Good luck, I think that’s a great way to take care of it!!!
I’m coming over from SITS and that is such a great idea! I need to try that to get my 3 yr old to sleep in her bed! Thanks for the good advice!
oh my gosh, im not a mother, but this brought me back to all those countless nights babysitting. good for you for detaching the emotion and being calm during those 7 trips. i wish you luck!!
Good luck, I hope it works out for you!!
Go mom! Good luck!