Mominator - Mommy Blog Mommy Blog

My daughter Aryanna just turned 5 recently.  Aparently she must be picking up on the fact this is, perhaps, a milestone birthday.  She keeps saying to me “I’m a big girl now”.  Every night at bed time, since she was about 2 I’ve laid in bed with her to help her fall asleep.  She can’t fall asleep if someone isn’t laying there with her.  Then usually, after I lay down we go through her ritual of her talking and talking as if she hasn’t talked to me ALL day.  Then she, quite often, gets up to get a stuffed animal for herself and for me.  She normally does this even though, anticipating her move, I always ask if she wants one to sleep with and she usually gracefully declines only to get up 10 minutes later to grab one or two.  Then she’ll talk some more.  I’ll shuuuush her about 20 times.  This will go one for an hour or so sometimes.  Finally, when I give her that stern warning and tell her “no more talking”, or I give her a good reason like “you need your energy for gymnastics tomorrow” (which only works Tuesday night since Gymnastics class is Wednesday), she FINALLY stays quiet and falls asleep, literally within 2 minutes, maybe 5 at the most.  It’s truly just a matter of getting her to stop for a second.

Well, lastnight went a little different.  She declared her independence!!!  “I can sleep by myself now because I’m 5.  I’m a big girl, you know.”

I got up so fast I almost fell out the bed.

Me:   ”Are you sure about this?”

Her:  “Yes, but can you leave the door open?”

Me:  “The dog will come in and bother you then while you try to sleep.” (which is true..he LOVES her)

Her:  “Ok, leave my bedroom door shut, but leave my bathroom door open so I get a little light and if I have a question or need something I can come get you.”

Me:  “OK”

Her:  “Kiss me goodnight before you go.  I need to give you at least…(she pauses and thinks)… six kisses.”

I could tell she was getting nervous.  I went over and she gave me the six kisses.  Then I walked to the door and saw my evening freedom dangling right in front of me.  Then….

Her:  “Oh, wait!!!  I need my bunny!  Can you find him since it’s dark?”   I find him and give him to her, kiss her on the forehead and walk to the door.

Her:  “Wait!  Wait! Blow me kisses….big kisses!”  I do. 

I gently and quietly walk out the door so as to give the appearance that I’m calm, but what I wanted to do was a little Mom jig.  I made it down the hall and sat in my seat in the office.  It was quiet for all of 1 minute.  Then, I hear her walk up behind me.  I turn around and looked at her smiling, without saying anything, gently grabbed her by the hand and walked her back to her bed, silent the whole time.  I laid her back down.  Kissed her on the forehead.  She looked up at me and said “I missed you.  I had to come see you because I think of you when you are not around me.”

I immediately laid down until she fell asleep.