Basically AP Mom

[eema.gray]

I guess I'm mostly an AP mom, though I like the description a friend gave better - a gentle parent. I've made my son cry himself to sleep a few times when absolutely nothing else worked, I've made him eat a bite of something he was certain he wouldn't like, he's had his hand smacked for grabbing knives and getting into things that could cause him harm. But overall, I listen to him, I go by his cues, and let him show me when he's ready to try new things.

About a week ago, he officially moved into his own bed. We made a big deal out of. He picked a set of sheets, came with us to the store to buy his bed and mattress, and got to play with the sheets for a few days before the bed got set up. We had the mattress out to air out too and he would run into the bedroom and bounce on it. He just seemed to "get" that these were his things. I expected tears and hysteria the first night. Didn't happen. He fussed around throughout the night but I'm fairly certain that had a lot to do with being on a new mattress. You know how the first night on a strange bed is always uncomfortable? He's slept just as good for naps and at night ever since. Then, last night, he woke up a couple hours in, as usual, and as usual I went in to pat his back and help him settle down. After a minute or two, he rolled away from me with this little sound that seemed to say "leave me alone eema, I can do this myself." Of course, I stayed in the room and recited a story he likes until his eyes were really closed, because I'm eema and I'm not going to just leave him alone if I don't have to. I felt really proud of him though. I'm proud of him for taking one more tiny little step towards independence. I'm proud that he feels comfortable and safe in his bed and knows he can fall asleep without help.

And this morning, I put him down for a nap after Ranger Daddy went to bed. Since RD was in bed, I figured I'd put Yeled down in the same bed. Only his little head popped up two minutes after I put him down. He wanted his own bed! So into his bed he went and has been peacefully asleep for almost an hour since. Yeah, I'm proud of this kid. He's growing up so fast and yet he needs so much from us still.