Bedtime Blues

A rough bedtime at night makes for a cranky mommy in the morning. My toddler refused to go to bed last night. I ended up sitting in the rocking chair in her room until she was ready to lay down. I just refused to let her leave her bedroom. It took a while, but she finally got tired enough to go and get in her bed by herself. I only got up once with her last night. It is hard to get her to stay in her bed since moving her into her toddler bed.

Today started off as normal with a kindergartener that refuses to get completed dressed when asked. Shoes and socks were not on her feet until three minutes before the bus came. And, as usual, the wailing begins as soon as missing the bus is mentioned. A reminder is always in the wings that if she would just get ready when asked, she wouldn't be in this predicament. Kindergartener off to school.

Today was registration for the mothers morning out program at our home church. I have decided to let my toddler enter the program this coming fall. She will be two this April and seems to be ready to attend. I asked her this week if she wanted to go to school this year with her friends and she replied "uh-huh". I think she will have fun. I went to the church expecting a line that would make a 30 minute wait but was pleasantly surprised. I may have spent eight minutes there. Shewf!!! It took longer to get out of the car with my toddler and back in it than it did to register.

I watched the neighbor's little girl this morning and went to an impromptu lunch at the newly opened local restaurant with them when she came to get her. On the way home, my toddler fell asleep, so nap time it is.

Nap time was over two hours later. Upon waking, it is automatic banana slicing time.

My kindergartener arrived home from school at her normal time. As she stepped off the bus, she fell and scraped the knuckles on her right hand on the rough pavement. The wailing begins. When she wails, she drowns out all other noise, even the bus as it pulls away. In the house we go to wash the scraped knuckles. She begins begging for a bandage for her finger that is not even close to bleeding. I explained that she didn't need one and continued to get her after school snack.

After snacks were consumed, "horse play" starts up, literally. Using a "Mardi Gras" necklace around the waist of my toddler, they run around like she is a horse with "getty-ups" and all. They go from that into diapering baby dolls and then drawing. Screaming starts and I leave the kitchen, where I have started dinner, to see what is going on. They are fighting over the space on the drawing table, one with a pencil and one with a crayon. "Please girls, can't you just get along with one another and share the space." The toddler thinks she has to do everything the kindergartener does. Convincing a kindergartener to play with a toddler does not always goes well but, sometimes I am pleasantly surprised.

My kindergartener has voiced her opinion about wanting macaroni and cheese for dinner. I have already starting working with some chicken and broccoli. Here is a good compromise, macaroni and cheese casserole with chicken and broccoli. Worked like a charm.

I have trouble completing a thought when I am writing. My toddler is toilet training and interrupts me constantly to sit on the toilet. If "sissy" goes, she thinks she needs to go. That and nonstop snacks keep me running back and forth.

The casserole is ready and Dad is on his way home. I can't wait for him to get here. I love when he walks in the door.