As I write this, my 2-year-old is throwing a crying fit in her crib. It is time for bed and we went through her nightly routine -- bath, teeth brushing, hair combing and stories. She had a big day at her grandma's outside so I know she's tired. But for the last week or so, she has insisted on complaining about bedtime.
My 4-year-old used to do this as well when she was a toddler. For 95% of the time, she would quietly lay down, maybe read a book in her crib, babble for a few minutes and drift off to sleep. Then for some reason, she'd cry at bedtime for a week or two, but when we didn't give in to any demands or provide unnecessary attention, she'd go back to her usual routine.
I've come to realize that children, like the moon, have phases. For the most part, they follow the routine we've established with some slight variations here and there. And then they attempt to defy the routine or test the waters. What will Mommy and Daddy do if I throw a fit at bedtime? Will they give me extra cuddles? Will they rock me? Will I get an extra cup of milk? When none of these extraneous demands are met, they return to the normal routine of going to sleep quietly and quickly and life goes on as usual... until the next time it happens... a full cycle, a complete circle.
For all I know, their behaviors and moods are directly tied to the actual phases of the moon. After working in a hospital, I can vouch that the strangest patients and most bizarre cases came in to be seen during a full moon. What's up with that anyway?
If I were more ambitious about this, I would chart my children's behavior and compare it to the moon. Sounds like something my husband would do. I'll leave it up to him.
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