Don't Judge Me

Now before you place judgment about this issue I have a strong feeling that most of you have been in my shoes or will be someday. I will also make the reach and say that most of you have thought about doing something or have already done something along the same lines so with that said you may now judge. Just check your "Perfect Parent Card" at the door first!!!

I love all of my children equally but they each have their individual challenges and for Grace that has been the struggle to get her to bed (ok so there are a few others she has but for the sake of this post just pretend she doesn't). Ever since she stopped taking naps it became more and more difficult to keep her to a bedtime routine, she would often fall asleep in the car on the way to get Lexi from school and then when it came for bed time she simply was not tired. It has been a struggle for some time but in the last 6 months or so it has gotten worse. Here is a run down of her schedule

9:00 AM- Drag Grace out of bed to get Lexi to school

9:00 - 10:00- Angry that I woke her up

12:00 - Lunch Time

3:00 PM- Leave to pick Lexi up from school, Grace falls asleep.

3:40 PM- Get home and carry her into the house feeling torn, do I wake her or let her get sleep that she soo desperately needs!!?? I usually went with the latter

6:00PM - Dinner

7:45PM - Family prayer and helping girls get ready for bed.

9:00 PM - Lexi is totally asleep but still taking Grace back to bed after her 1000th time getting out of bed.

11:00 PM - Lexi has been awaken by Grace several times while playing in her room and turning the lights on and off while I continue to wait up for her to go to sleep.

1:00 AM - Everyone but Grace and myself in bed asleep. I finally bring her out in the living room with me and sit her on my lap until she falls asleep and then I carry her to bed.

There were some nights that I gave up and went to bed and that is when she would do things like cut her hair or Lexi's or color on the walls and doors or make messes with water. It just got to the point where we were all being sleep deprived because of her wacky sleep cycle. It wasn't fair to the sister that shares a room with her, it wasn't fair to us parents who already sleep with one eye open (OK so that is just me but still) and most importantly it was not fair to Grace who was having such a hard time. It came time for some serious action so after some serious prayer and then research on the Internet and a recalled memory we made the decision to purchase a bottle of Melatonin 1. I had once babysat for a girl who had been put on the same thing to help her fall asleep because she was having a hard time going to sleep and after looking into it, it just seemed like it was worth a try.

Three weeks ago we began giving her one before bed time and the first night it was a miracle! She fell asleep in less than 20 min and slept the entire night waking at 8 AM rested and happy. She even told me that she felt happy! Ever since we have been giving her melatonin it has made a huge difference in our lives and hers, she is still Grace don't get it twisted, but she is so much better. There isn't a fight for her to take it, in fact I think she likes the one on one time with me or Jimmy every night when it comes for her to have it.

There had been times over the years where I had thought about giving her allergy medicine or I was almost a little happy when she would get a cold so that I could give her some of the night time medicine but I never felt like that was something I could give her in good conscious when she wasn't sick.

This has truly saved us and her, our home is more peaceful and Jimmy and I now have our evenings back to be with each other.


(Oh and before you give me advice on something we should have tried before this, save it cause we did and have and it didn't. i.e Bedtime technique, baths, running her around the block, reading books, singing songs, playing music etc. etc. etc.)