Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Cry-Baby

Yep, we're doing it.

We're 'sleep-training' or 'sleep-learning' or any other euphemisms you'd like to throw around which basically means, our tiny boy is crying until he sleeps. Tonight is Night One. I know what you want to know, and keep reading, I'll tell you.

LCD regulars will tell you I was deeply troubled by this idea. In fact, I was even all the way to (what? No!) judgmental about it here. Quick aside, how freakin' pretentious is it that I've initialized the name of my blog? Um, seriously. AND, it makes me really happy.

So I wanted to throw up all day. This morning I watched the DVD from the nice pretty ladies at Sleepy Planet. Let me tell you what, no other book - not even theirs got me there. But their lovely little faces being all super genuine and I don't know, mothering totally put me over the edge onto 'this is a good idea and not only am I going to do it, I'm even going to do a totally ridiculous fist-bump with the cute hubs that means game-on'. Because you can't go back on a fist-bump, I mean. That wouldn't be right.

Let's be clear - as a filmmaker I can be pretty sensitive and - let's be clear - critical of all things video. And I would be lying if I said I wasn't totally annoyed with the music. But otherwise? It's a good piece of media. Good graphics, good talent, good other mom's that we follow through the harrowing experience of 'sleep learning'. My mom and I watched it and I just wept. Wept. She's so sweet she encouraged me all day when my little eyes would grow big with fear and when I would convince myself that he was teething! we couldn't do it or that he is sick was that a cough? we shouldn't do it and that the moon isn't full enough or do you think we should wait til the economy is better to do it? but really we shouldn't do it because of my hangnail because I can't handle any more emotionally, so we really, really shouldn't do it.

God bless her, right? Example enough that this parenting gig is tough, seeing as how she has had to put up with this hot mess for so many years.

But tonight at 7pm when the show was all set to start, she was so outta here. I can't say I blame her. I'm sure she was so worn out from supporting me all day with the pre-cry crying. And helping with preparations for this film fundraiser we're holding this weekend. And the cleaning out my fridge! I mean, really? What on earth did I do in a past-life to deserve this much goodness? Man, I'm grateful.  She even dropped off some delicious tacos from Hugos before her exit.

So the cute hubs and I sat there with our digital clock and pen in hand and listened to the dreaded soundtrack. Here's the craziest part of all. I didn't cry. Not until I saw some welling in the big blues on the cute hubs and then I melted a bit. But it was a strangely dry-eyed experience for me. But! Don't worry friends, there's always tomorrow. Or later tonight.


And the answer to your question is one hour. I think most people don't have to endure it that long, but for us, tonight, with various breaks at various intervals the total was one hour, one minute.


I'm putting this picture here because it's a good visual on the BHB mid-cry. I'm a jerk too because my mom and I had a good laugh at this moment - we said together 'that is ONE pissed-off-pumpkin!'


 

6 comments:

  1. He is so precious! Tonight will be better and he still loves loves loves you!

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  2. Good for you! It WILL be better. I didn't let my first cry it out and I SO wish I would have. She is four and is still a terrible sleeper. We co-slept until she was two. And honestly? It was SO MUCH harder on her. My second and third daughters cried it out at six months. It was hard in the moment but better for all in the long run.

    Be strong! Parenting is HARD.

    P.S. Can I catitolize anything else? It's a problem I have. :)

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  3. Good luck tonight! Gosh it is hard. Just try to stick with it or you'll confuse the poor guy. Every night will get easier, tho one or two might be harder owing to teething and whatnot. Honestly if he went down after one hour and one minute I think you have a true genius on your hands. But you knew that! My sons sleep 10 and 11 hours a night, respectively, night after night after night. After years of this I still say a little prayer to the sleep angels several times a week...

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  4. Yep, it gets better. Night by night, they cry less and less, till they just catapult themselves into their own crib and tuck themselves in at night. Well, it's not THAT great, but it gets so so so very much better.

    You'll have to watch out for the testing phases though. Both of mine would test us every now and then. Usually about 3 or 4 times a year. I'd put them in bed and they would fuss and kick for a bit....but after 2 or 3 nights, everything would be back to normal.

    Good Luck!

    Just remember whatever you do, talk about it and tell everyone what you did and how you made it through because someone out there will identify and need the support.

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  5. Godspeed and mucho sleep to all of you in the very near future. Kids are made tough.

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  6. But what I want to know is DID IT WORK? Is he magically sleeping 12 hours a night now? You know I am a total AP softy but I am jealous of you moms who sleep.

    XO Carrie (Henry's mom!)

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