A Nightmare Before Bedtime

Sure, we all have bad dreams while we sleep. But what about the nightmare before we actually hit the sheets?

That nightmare in our home is putting Miss Jordyn to bed. It has become a HUGE ordeal.

John and I have started to begin this process about 30 minutes before her actual bed time considering it takes that long.

First we change our PJs and put a pull up on (we have yet to eliminate the pull up from bed time but boy are we close!).

Next comes brushing of the teeth. This is when it starts to get chaotic. Jordyn brushes by herself and then I do a quick brush to catch anything she missed. Since she is VERY independent she hates that I insist on helping. After I finish up, she rinses her mouth which usually consists of way too much water and wet sleeves. She freaks out and wants to change her pajamas but HECK NO! that is just out of control!

After we are done in the bathroom it is prayer time.

Prayer time is a calm and relaxing part of the night. Right? WRONG!

First of all, Jordyn prays for EVERYONE and EVERYTHING. Her intentions are more than sweet but when she starts praying for "the pretty wall her daddy painted" and her "clean blanket that Mommy finally washed" I about lose it. Some people get prayed for twice (or three times!). By the end of praying I find myself extremely frustrated and worn out. This is supposed to be a peaceful time and it is all but that.

After the lights are off and Jordyn is tucked in, the chaos escalates to a whole new level. The next 20-40 minutes are filled with singing (loud), talking (loud) and yelling (even louder). She requests to go to the bathroom (again), insists she needs more water (which will of course lead to needing to use the bathroom, AGAIN), and depending on who she prayed with the first time, she wants to pray again with the other. She wants a run down of next day and would like to put in an order for her breakfast to come.

Example: "Mom, tomorrow can I have pancakes, bacon, chocolate milk, cee cee's (cereal), pasta, oranges and a treat."

Me: Sure (whatever it takes to get her to go to sleep, right?)

Jordyn: "Tomorrow can we go to the park and go shopping?"

Me: Sure.

I tell ya, that girl is FAN-TAS-TIC at stalling. She is the queen.

My favorite is when she tells me that Jillian, who has been sleeping like an angel for 30 minutes, is keeping her awake.

OR, that her eyes don't work and she can't close them.

Half of the time I am furious and half of the time I find myself trying extremely hard not to laugh. I mean, how does she know how to do this so well?

Until next time, I pray for a "less chaotic" bed time routine this evening.