Halos And Rainbows

Come and rest your sleepy head

My tired Angel it's time for bed

Shiny Halos float away

Rainbows play another day

Bedtime Blues

We all know how it's meant to go, teatime, free play, teeth, bath, story in bed ending in the loving, smiling parent leaving the room, gently closing the door to leaving a small night light glowing.

This is the theory

This is not at Sunshine House, how about yours?

The start works out ok, but then suddenly there's no-one tired, and I read a second and possibly third story, or maybe the whole book until exhausted I fall asleep and they go back in the lounge to Daddy, who let's them watch tv till they collapse, he wakes me and I carry them to bed.

or

I nip out with promises of return and am followed, and we start again with me leaving.

Every time someone leaves the room they are taken back.

Eventually someone other than me goes to sleep.

I wake in the morning and 1 or 2 children are asleep in my bed.

But it's a start...

The Joy of Audio Books

Ok this sounds like a bit of a sly way to get out of reading a bedtime story.  But I found that after the bedtime story was when the sneaking out began, and I either kept going back or went for rapid return, which is to be honest quite stressful for all of us.  It may work wonderfully within a week for some families but my Little Angels are seriously more interested in what we're doing than what they should be doing, e.g. sleeping.

We have quite a few audio stories and there's even an online shop you can download stories from.  I found with the help if Insanity Personified that my boys will stay in their room if there is a story, even not read by one of us.  This at least keeps them occupied and in their beds and potentially dozing off.  It is after all the work of a moment to go and turn the CD player off.

This has worked so well that one of Georgeous Goats birthday presents was a football shaped CD player/radio for their room and lots of kids CD's.  Goat who is quite good about staying in bed and reading to himself and Bear anyway dozes of really nicely so we just have to find the trick for the bedshy Bear.

Arrgh;

There's Something...?

under my bed or in the wardrobe, behind the curtain, under the stairs...

Yes, we've all met them, the creatures that the grown-ups can't or won't see, they lurk around the home waiting to jump out on the unwary.  Hiding in the patterns on the furnishings, pretending to be shadows, but you're not quite sure, did you really leave your clothes looking like a person? Did teddy move? Why's dolly staring at me? One it starts it can go on and on...

Whatever can we do to stop it happening?

Older siblings sharing a room can be a help as then the little person is not alone Goat and Bear have been known to cuddle up together and go to sleep.  As parents we usually just hear the screams.

A Nightlight and/or a light on the landing can help

Leaving your door open for a quick gettaway can be comforting

Having parents that come when you scream or love you better when you return to the lounge for the millionth time is priceless.

For everything else there's Momma card!

 I just deal with the monster!

Goat slept in my room when we were building his and when he was about 2 1/2  a huge monstrous thingy got under his cot and he was terrified even after being shown there was nothing there.  This clearly wasn't working, he knew very well that it was under there and that his silly parents weren't looking right.  Finally after a few nights of broken sleep with the poor creature trying to share his warm quilt I decided that it had to find a new home.  Yet again it had pulled on Goats quilt making him scream, I'd had enough it was me or the monster.  I put all the lights on and opened the patio door.  In shock Goat forgot to cry; it was the middle of the night, whatever was his Yummy Mummy doing.  I got my hockey stick in one hand and fished under his cot with the other, could I feel the monster, I pulled my arm back - had I got it - "No he's watching you,"  I fished again and this time when I checked the monster that I couldn't see or feel was caught by the back of his neck and had been pulled bodily from his hidy hole.   I threw him out of the back door waved the hockey stick and said loudly and firmly, "Get out and stay out, don't you dare come back!"  The monsterous creature that had so scared Goat was gone.  He checked but no-one was under the bed, and the poor homeless monster never came back.  he still remembers and laughs about it now he's 8 but I think at the time he really did see the monster..

Asking the Angels to help us sleep well and protect us as we go to bed works really well

Thinking a Grandparent or family member that has passed over is watching over you works if that's what you want 

A room guard toy that makes a noise when someone comes in can help, unless it's just dad checking you're ok

A favourite toy sitting on your pillow or snuggled up with you always protects you

A colour change clock, lava lamp or disco light ball can be relaxing to watch

Monsters can be scared of us too - watch Monsters Inc and you'll see things differently

Trying to find where the monster comes from and reasoning why it's only your imagination can help but is not always as good as keeping a monster destroying torch of power under your pillow, the plug-in night light of protection on all night and making sure your jammas are buttoned correctly.  If all else fails a mum with a water squirt can really upset an angy monster.

Going back to the start of what scares you and dealing with it, works well too!

There may be monsters out there but the ones in your head are nearer, deal with them and the rest are a doddle!

Good luck!