I am feeling a little better today. I wrote yesterday's post while listening to my daughter scream her little head off. It was very difficult because I can't be the one to comfort her at night right now. The burden is all on Jack. After listening to her scream for an hour and a 1/2 we decided to let her sleep with us. Our rationale was that we were trying to solve two problems at once. She is both used to nursing at night and sleeping in bed with us because we let her do both of those things all last week. She slept with us last night, but I didn't nurse her. I think this was a good decision because she didn't wake up until 6:30. I was then able to nurse her and put her back in her crib. She slept in her room until 9:30. I guess this is the solution. We are going to take it one step at a time. The only thing that gives me hope is that in the past she has been a great sleeper.
I on the other hand need to stop being such a freak. I realize that this is just one of the many times in my life that I am going to have to make decisions that make her miserable. Trying to balance parental guilt and what is best for her is such a difficult task. I didn't think I would be this way. I thought I was prepared for all of this. I thought that all of my training in behavioral psychology and functional analysis would help me through situations like this. Who knew that I would be such a softy. Just wait until I have to take her to daycare for the first time. Sigh!
Comments (2)
Hi Holly,
It really is hard being a mother. I totally relate. Hopefully things will get better soon. I was all geared up to try co-sleeping with Aidan (I can recommend a number of references if you are interested), but found that I was so physically uncomfortable from not moving during the night that it just wasn't going to work for us. I still enjoy napping with him every once in a while in the early morning and a weekend here or there.
Listening to Aidan cry was really hard for me to take. I don't think I could have done it if he had persisted for very long. Good luck.
Posted by Tiffany | October 21, 2003 2:27 PM
Posted on October 21, 2003 14:27
Holly:
I can remember advice from sources on how to handle "baby upset" or "baby adjusting to new circumstances". The advice helped, but in the end parents needed to use their best judgment for the existing circumstances. The literature is helpful, though. However, remember that a noted child psychologist in Ogden gave advice to hundreds of parents as a guest lecturer at church meetings. Parents tried his advice with results that sometimes worked and sometimes failed. When the psychologist got married, had children and had to cope with situations at home, his apt comment was..."Remember all that stuff I said, it doesn't always work".
Posted by Vickie | October 26, 2003 9:45 AM
Posted on October 26, 2003 09:45