Bedtime rituals for an almost 3 year old, that would be T2. I’m sure many of you will relate. I’ve always had problems with both girls for their bedtime rituals. With T1, she had to sleep with me holding my hand, smelling it (at one point I wondered what internal bodily smells reeked from my magic hand but it was just soap, plain soap! And if that was the case, why can’t they smell their own hands!?). I’ve even asked them, what do you smell? T1 says, nice soap! *rolls eyeballs*

We spent 5 whole years sleeping with T1, spending up to an hour of our time, sometimes more, very rarely less PUTTING HER TO SLEEP. Once she was out, we’d pray fervently that she. would. NOT. wake. up. as this would almost always foil our plans to get some couple time. T2 is a lot more independent generally but she also needs my hand to sleep! What is it with the hand??? Why is it not the bra strap or the hair or the shirt or the damn bolster or pillow! Do you think it’s inherently genetic? I don’t think my mother would know if I ever needed to smell her hand but I guess I should ask her, huh??? I reckon that back in the day, babies were just dumped in cots in the next room though and left to their own devices, which is what WE should be doing. *snarls*

So. The hand. That magic hand that T2 will stay up for hours for just to wait for that hand. Without it, she cannot sleep. It’s THAT addictive. Yet, if I travelled without her, she’d settle for the Hubs’ hand. One night, we switched. T1 missed me and wanted to sleep with me so after T2 slept, I kicked the Hubs to sleep with T2 but in the middle of the night, she woke up and with her eyes closed started feeling around for my hand! The Hubs quickly passed his hand to her but within seconds, her eyes popped open (although it was dark) and asked irritatedly, “Where is Mama?!!!” Was the smell different or what??? Then she sat up and cried, “I WANT MAMA!!!!”

Bugger that. We had to switch again. Poor T1, only got part of Mama that night.

All you single ladies, just you wait till your turn…..

I have never been strong enough to allow them to cry it out and because of that, I’m counting the days till the Hubs and I can just say to the kids, BEDTIME!!! And both will scurry into their bedrooms and leave us in peace throughout the night. WHEN???

What more, whenever it IS bedtime now, with T1, it’s really easy. We tell her it’s bedtime and she’d obediently (sometimes with delays) go brush her teeth by herself, get dressed into her jammies and come give us goodnight hugs and kisses then off she goes by herself to bed. But first without reminding us, “Please come and hug me again later when you go to bed….” But of course.

With T2, there are several scenarios. The easiest one is, she’s tired and will willingly follow us to bed, lie down, look for the hand and fall asleep within half an hour.

The second scenario is, “NO! I’m not sleepy!” or “WAIT! I’m still cooking!” or “No! I don’t want sleep now. I’m busy.” If we force her in, there would be wails of tears and screams and if we put up with it, it involves serving the Queen with wet wipes and a change of pyjamas because her wails are so dramatic that her entire outfit gets drenched. After an hour of drama, she knocks out from shear exhaustion. The easier way is just to wait it out till she gets tired enough and willingly follows us into the bedroom.

The third scenario is when she willingly follows us into the bedroom and after 15 minutes of darkness and lying down, she decides, “Can I please have milk? I want milk….” or “Can I have water? I’m thirsty.” or “Where is my bear? I need my bear.” or “I need to go outside to tell Daddy something….” (and last night it was, “Daddy, don’t waste time working.”). Sometimes, this will happen several times within the hour, a request of some sort. After getting into bed and snuggling in, everyone has to get up and tend to that request repeatedly. If we don’t, scenario two of drama wails ensues.

Then there are the crazy requests of wearing what she likes to sleep. Sometimes it’s a jumper when she’s drenched in sweat, sometimes it’s socks and a dress, sometimes it’s with a hair band.

“No! I want to sleep with my Hair Band, please!”

Having a little drama queen in her terrible twos, soon threes, is plenty fun I tell ya…..

**************************************************************************
Who is Mamapumpkin?
Mamapumpkin is a former Design Architect turned Multi-Million Dollar Digital Entrepreneur. She sets out to prove to all that you can have anything and everything that you want; if you have that fire of desire burning within and the drive to work hard. Even better with much love.

Mamapumpkin has not only grown corporate businesses successfully in the past and doubled her salary 5 times over 5 organisations but has grown THREE BUSINESSES to 7 FIGURES within an 8 year period. She now shows others EXACTLY HOW after retiring her own husband from employment. He is now the official dog walker, family driver, chef and THE BEST FATHER to their two girls and THE BEST HUSBAND to the woman who CHOSE HIM!

Mamapumpkin is the girl who has nothing but fights for everything including YOU. She is idealistic in her desire to put unbelievable amounts of money and extrardinary happiness into the lives of good people so we can change the world together believing in happiness for ALL. She strives to impact lives authentically wanting to reduce poverty cycles and enable quality education for all and always supports the voiceless. She believes we can all have a life of our own desires to enable real contribution into the world. But first, one needs to understand what this all means.

A beautiful life without limits.

If you wish to learn how to propel your life forward guaranteed, be brave to take action. Mamapumpkin's purpose is to build people. Her gift is to help them UNCOVER their HIDDEN GIFTS. She operates fairly and always leaves an impression. You either love her or not and she is alright either way.

She is a living testimony that women really can have a lot. Being financially and time free has enabled her to travel the world anytime, anywhere, doing anything with anyone, as she spends most of her days with her children, having fun, supporting others wherever she can. Also having fun.