SOUTH SIDE MISSION
Yesterday Darwin and I drove over to the South Side for a day of surfing fun with Julie, Ryan and Vann. We set off quite early after breakfast at the Siphers palace, Darwin and Vann had mini morning naps in the car on the drive over. We were all very happy to see small glassy waves and an abundance of whales splashing not far off shore constantly. We all took turns surfing, Darwin managed to pull of a short lunchtime nap in the shade tent so I was very happy, after a few hours surfing and lounging over couple of cold beers we headed back home. It was a great day but I must admit it was a long and gas sucking drive which really cuts into Darwin’s naps which makes me nervous that he will have a bad nights sleep.
Speaking about sleep, we are back to Boot Camp. Darwin had been escaping his wrap about 45 mins after being put down to bed of a night time, we had to re wrap him as many as 6 times. Each time he would fall back asleep then wake again, it was a draining experience especially since he was sleeping so well. It was obvious it was time to teach Darwin how to sleep without the wrap, something I wish we’d done the first time, but hey.
Today is the first day and this mornings nap went well, asleep almost straight away but awake after only 25 mins. This afternoons nap was a little harder, he cried for almost an hour before going to sleep for 1 hour.
There is so much controversy regarding “controlled crying”. I’d like to put in my two cents and say that I believe the method works and that it is an effective way for teaching Darwin how to sleep on his own. It seems the right amount of sleep during the day and at night a “schedule” or “flexible routine” appears to be very beneficial to Darwin’s development and our sanity. So there. When he cries, it hurts me but I know he is ok and just needs to sleep. I get done what I have to while he sleeps so that I can devote myself to him when he’s awake and this works out perfectly.
He’s standing on his own an uncountable amount of times throughout the day and is so proud of himself.
Rithie saw this today and thought of this post (sorry it’s a bit long)
“The right way
I’ve been getting a lot of emails lately in which the writer says some version of “I just want to do this the right way” (meaning parenting).
The right way.
The right way is what works for you and your child and your family.
The right way for you is not the exact same right way as the right way for your neighbor, your sister, your best friend.
The right way with your first child is not the right way with your second child or third child or thirteenth child.
The right way is what allows you to be true to yourself and honor your child at the same time, as much as you can, in the middle of situations that should be against the Geneva Convention.
The right way doesn’t have anything to do with pacifiers, or putting a baby down asleep or awake, or when your baby is out of diapers, or whether your baby watches TV or not.
The right way is about learning more about yourself and using that knowledge to learn about your child. And then taking that knowledge of your child and using it to learn more about yourself.
The right way is having a long conversation with this amazing little person you’ve been entrusted with. Sometimes the conversation gets rough and you get tired and angry at each other, but you keep talking. And the conversation just gets more and more interesting as you go along.
For me, the right way is that my mom learned how to text as soon as she figured out that that’s easier for me at work than talking.
I don’t know if I’m doing it the right way at any given time with my kids, but the conversation seems to be going well, so I’m trusting that I’m doing fine.”
Rutie I know you guys are doing it the right way
love Anne
Anne said this on March 5th, 2008 at 8:41 am