On Her Flying Trapeze

Wednesday, July 05, 2006

The Unbearable Finality of Parental Momentum…

…to a child who knows the order of things.

We’re big on schedules at our house. The bedtime ritual is so set in stone that our kids know once things are set in motion, there’s no escaping it. You are on your way to the cage of torture and endless night dreamland the moment the first step of bedtime begins and there ain’t nothing you can do about it.

What’re you gonna do big boy, cry for you mom? MWAHAHAHA!

Magoo has become so sensitive to it that when I pick him up in the evening and say, “Okay…” his bottom lip curls down and he starts the piteous wail that is his futile attempt to stay up late and watch me blog, a highly enjoyable activity around these parts. Really, people come from miles around to watch me type, mostly small children trying to avoid being put in the clink for 10-12 hours.

Alas, resistance is futile and the little dudes are snoring away upstairs while I attend to all things geeky and internetly.

And in recent Laylee lingo we get, “Mom, I love you, but I’m gonna put my shoes on,” and “I just don’t feel very special today.”
Me: Laylee, you are so special. Come here for a snuggle.
Laylee: Well, I don’t feel very special. I haven’t felt special for a couple of weeks now.

It would be heartbreaking if it weren’t so funny. I’m not quite sure what to do about that one, except squidge her until she feels somethin’, special or otherwise.

25 Comments:

Blogger Millie said...

Seriously cracking up at Laylee. She's obviously inherited her mother's gift for comedy.

7/05/2006 11:22 PM

 
Blogger Amber said...

ROFL (and sad, really really sad). What a crack up! So you feeling recovered/settled at all yet? I know after our move it took months- and now we've been here nine and it still doesn't feel like 'home' some days.

7/05/2006 11:46 PM

 
Blogger Grammy said...

Isn't it funny how much little kids HATE bedtime, while we of the elderly persuasion Love it?

BTW - I'm with Laylee. Some days I just don't feel that special either. But knowing the little princess as well as I do, I have to wonder if those days co-ordinate with the days when the Snow White costume is in the dirty clothes hamper. - Just a thought!

7/06/2006 4:26 AM

 
Blogger Jeana said...

That is so sunny. I'm with your mom...and naptime? I wish someone would force me to lay down for 2 hours. Good for you on following through.

7/06/2006 4:40 AM

 
Blogger Sarah said...

Laylee's comment is hilarious--especially the "haven't felt special for a few weeks part" Love it!

7/06/2006 5:12 AM

 
Blogger Notes from the Trenches said...

that is hysterical.

I think i need some of your bedtime voodoo, my kids think bedtime is totally optional

7/06/2006 5:22 AM

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

THAT is so very very funny! My kids do and say just about anything to avoid staying in their bedrooms one minute longer at bedtime. With Duchess, she is compelled to let us know, 50 times, how much she loves us. It goes from strong, to not so strong, to just breaking down in tears, to complete melt down over the course of 2 hours as she comes out to tell us she loves us. Such the drama queen.

7/06/2006 6:41 AM

 
Blogger Nettie said...

AWwwwww! Poor sweetie! I'm sure she'll feel special again real soon.

Good for you on being consistent about bedtime! My kids always start in with, "But, Mom, I'm not tired!" I always reply with, "No, I am. And stop calling me But Mom."

7/06/2006 7:34 AM

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Laylee is a great drama queen like my Ant. He really loves to share his feelings in the hopes of making us feel guilty enough to give him whatever he wants.

7/06/2006 8:08 AM

 
Blogger Missy said...

Laylee....she has such a funny way of putting things. "for a couple weeks now"..LOL!

Bedtime here is just like you said. Once it is set in motion nothing is going to derail the plans. LOL. I usually get the ploys of potty breaks...still in the process of keeping middle kid dry through the night. He has learned well how to use that to is favor! Oh well...lol.

7/06/2006 8:54 AM

 
Blogger Heather said...

bedtime is the ONLY consistent structred part of our day. My kids like your no it is coming as soon as they hear the water run in the bathtub.

Just wait until Laylee won't let you squeeze her anymore. My request for hugs was denied the other day...he's only 4

7/06/2006 9:21 AM

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

She's so cute. I had to go back and read some of her past quotes to my husband in addition to these. As for not feeling special, maybe it's because everyone has been so wrapped up with the big move?

7/06/2006 9:39 AM

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

LOL, that Laylee. Can't wait to read her blog someday.

7/06/2006 11:37 AM

 
Blogger kyouell said...

My Biscuit has had similar behavior to Magoo's. When he is obviously tired, but the normal routine doesn't produce a relaxed & willing to sleep guy, I break out the Classical Baby dvd. Just the sound of the intro will start him pouting and crying -- because he knows he can't fight off sleep once the "Cricket on the Roof" and "My Blanket" play.

7/06/2006 3:24 PM

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Very funny post. What a darling kid. I misread your post at first, and thought you said it would be funny if it wasn't hearbreaking, then I busted up when I read it was the other way around. :)

7/06/2006 4:12 PM

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

That is adorable. Can I suggest to send something fun to her in the mail like a special note. Written in pictures she can understand. You can make it from one of her fav. characters. Maybe that dwarf that isn't a verb.

7/06/2006 5:44 PM

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

That is adorable. Can I suggest to send something fun to her in the mail like a special note. Written in pictures she can understand. You can make it from one of her fav. characters. Maybe that dwarf that isn't a verb.

7/06/2006 5:44 PM

 
Blogger the lizness said...

but she is so so special to all of us in blogworld! (hug to laylee)

7/06/2006 10:33 PM

 
Blogger Super Happy Girl said...

Awwww, Laylee is so cute!
When are you writing the "Laylee Lingo" book? I'll buy it.

“Mom, I love you, but I’m gonna put my shoes on” a new classic.

7/06/2006 11:15 PM

 
Blogger Blackeyedsue said...

Laylee and my dd sound interchangeable. We are going through a "I am trying to be good, but I just can't seem to. Maybe I should live in a different house" phase.

Their brains are funny.

7/06/2006 11:19 PM

 
Blogger emlouisa said...

My 2 1/2 year old has figured out recently how to stall at bedtime. He asks for water, then more water, then more water, then tells me he pooped his diaper, then tells me he needs more water, an extra book, etc. I just LOVE it.

7/07/2006 5:59 AM

 
Blogger deedee said...

Ahhh, she sounds like a very special darling.

7/07/2006 7:44 AM

 
Blogger Margaret said...

We ALL need someone to squeeze us until we feel special sometimes. At least kids TELL people so that something gets DONE about it.

And my favorite similar comment was one that my sister heard my niece, who was 5 at the time, say to her 3 yr old brother, "I love you, too, but please don't hug me when i'm on the potty." TOOO funny!

7/07/2006 9:45 AM

 
Blogger B.E.C.K. said...

Your daughter cracks me up. :-) When we were dogsitting recently, my son took to saying things like "Why are you feeding the dog before you feed me? Aren't I precious any more?" Maybe he and your cutie have been secretly communicating... ;^)

7/09/2006 5:15 AM

 
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Love it. Love. It.

7/10/2006 4:50 PM

 

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