Learning as a schoolie mum.

Having been a schoolie mum for a term, I'm getting used to the routine and is able to manage my time a little better.

It has been a steep learning curve as there was no easing into it. It was wham-bang 8:45am - 3pm school hours from the first day.

School lunches are getting easier to pack and school-play routine more or less sorted out.

We still get readers in the bag to read everyday, but with an earlier dinner, we are able to enjoy it a lot better, rather than rushing for the Preppie to shut her eyes and sleep.

I have learnt that it's ok to let some things slip by. We had 9 weeks of school in Term 1 and by week 8, Miss 5y.o. had difficulties waking up in the morning. I have been packing breakfast in the car and letting her sleep in a little. There are two sides to the argument. One will say no, they need to learn the consequences of waking up late, or they need the discipline to be up at that time whether they like it or not. My side of the argument is, I'd rather pack breakfast and let her eat in the car than have a grumpy and cranky child to start the day off. That extra 10-15 mins really helps to get her spirits right. After all, if I had woken her up 10-15 mins earlier, I'll be battling her to eat her breakfast for that time frame anyway.

While I have no intention to teach my children that sleeping in when duty calls is ok, I do want them to know that we are not perfect and once in awhile it is ok to just go in late and apologise for waking up late. She has worked hard during the day and she does need the sleep to bring her through another day. Sphere: Related Content

Still fighting sleep at 2.5years old

I'm exasperated by Miss 2.5 today. Refused to sleep. Cried and talked to herself for 1.5 hrs until I went in, made her shut up and lie down. Turned on some soft music and she fell asleep within 5 minutes.

It is especially annoying when I had other children trying to sleep.

For the first time, I felt like slapping her. Don't know where that thought came from, but I know I was boiling. Thank God, I didn't. Told her she's not getting any afternoon tea if she didn't sleep.

It's human nature, isn't it? I fight sleep too. Except, I probably am a little wiser in knowing that I won't be able to survive the following day if I don't get any decent rest.

Sigh, thank God for His grace and redemption. Our old sinful nature is always at work and needs the Holy Spirit's guidance all the time. Sphere: Related Content

Midnight wakings for a toddler

Just when we thought that Miss 2 is sleeping through the night, done with her teething for now, she came up with something else. Not really sure what it was. My guess would be either dreams or needing to urinate.

She is definitely more aware of her bladder and bowel movements as well as what goes on in her brain at night. There were times when she woke up screaming for mummy and would say that she's frightened. Slept in her room most of last night and could hear her calling out once in awhile in fright. Then there were times when she sounded like she was very uncomfortable and wanted to get out of something.

Apparently children do dream after googling on dreams and toddlers. They start dreaming as soon as they were born. This website, www.drgreene.com has an article on dreams and night terrors. You can read more about it here.

As much as I'd like to remove all forms of fear from my child, I realise too that it is a part of growing up. Learning to overcome fear is a form of problem solving and understanding oneself.

If dreams were not the reason of her wakings last night, then my next guess would be the need to urinate. She does tell us most times that she needs to go to the toilet. Sometimes after she has done it in her nappy, sometimes before. We put her up on the toilet anyway and let her decide in her own time when she can be in panties totally.

There are differing theories and methods to toilet training, and I agree to most that parents need to make a conscious effort in helping and guiding them to the toilet. However, as far as I am concerned, that's about all that a parent can do - to teach them what and how to do it. After that, it is up to the children to want to be on the toilet all the time.

Perhaps it is a security and comfort thing for children to want to get it done in their nappies. It is also probably the last thing that they can use to retain their 'babyhood'. Once that is gone, they would be 'all grown up'. So, I must say that it is really up to the child to move on in its life. After all, we are teaching children to make decisions and not force a decision upon them.

Hopefully, we'll have a better night tonight. Sphere: Related Content