Levedy

There's a Reason Women Have the Babies

Men are wimps, at least when it comes to kids.

We need to transition Chris from a crib to a toddler bed. I want him settled in the new bed well before his baby sister comes.

Last night, I put him to bed in his big boy bed (which looks like a munchkin version of Bean's bed - it's funny to see the two beds in the same room.) Of course, he giggles, leaps out, and races down the hall. I expected this. The same thing happened when we moved Bean to a bed. I was prepared for at least an hour, probably two, of grabbing him before he left the bedroom and putting him back into his bed. No talking, no negotiation, no eye contact, just popping him back into the bed.

The theory is that eventually he'll realize that he's not getting enough attention or feedback to make it worth getting out of bed repeatedly. Or he collapses from fatigue, whichever. It's win-win. My spine was steeled. This may take a few hours a night for a few nights, but he'll catch on once he realizes that we mean business.

But my bladder got in the way. After about 45 minutes, I called Dim over to relieve me. I went to the bathroom, and checked in with Bean, who was playing a computer game, and I saw Dim admitting defeat and putting Chris to bed in his crib, instead.

And how long did he last, you ask? How long was he able to stand up to the intimidation and strong-arm tactics of a 15-month old, a kid whose most dangerous weapon in his arsenal is a blue stuffed dog stitched on a blanket? 7 minutes.

7 whole backbreaking, stand-up-to-your-kid minutes.

I married a hairy jellyfish.

Posted by Jen at June 17, 2009 9:38 AM