judecorp: (motherhood)
judecorp ([personal profile] judecorp) wrote2005-11-28 06:00 pm

I want my Mommy!

You know, I have fun when I'm babysitting, all the way up until it's time for bed. Then it is just SO exhausting.

E will just not go to sleep! She follows the whole bedtime routine perfectly - potty, pajamas, toothbrushing, two books... then all hell breaks loose. She just Will. Not. Sleep. She lays there, eyes wide, telling me she misses Mommy 873278723957 times. (And I know she misses Mommy, and I feel bad that she misses Mommy, but really, what can I do about it?)

I've tried almost everything... from cuddling and trying to make her feel better to explaining that Mommy will be home soon to ignoring her after the first couple of times to saying, "Shhh, time for sleep, no more talking" a million times to laying in bed next to her and reading a book. Sometimes she falls asleep eventually (bedtime is at 8 and the moms come home between 10 and 10:30 usually) and sometimes she is still awake when they get home.

It's just so exhausting. In fact, I'm now dreading going over there because I don't want another 2 hours of "I want my Mommy" when there isn't a dang thing I can do to help. It's not like I can mysteriously make Mommy come home, you know? (I tell them this is going on, that's really the best I can do.) It becomes so tedious and last week I really felt myself becoming irritated.

I need to think of another strategy, and quick, because I'm not up for that tonight.

[identity profile] ullrsawah.livejournal.com 2005-12-05 01:41 am (UTC)(link)
It sounds like the moms are lucky to have you -- someone who actively cares is priceless. That said, I agree that routine is very important -- especially for young kids. I don't have to go into why, but I think it's important enough to have a potentially awkward conversation about. Good luck and E is lucky to have a sitter who cares as much as you do.

[identity profile] judecorp.livejournal.com 2005-12-08 03:46 am (UTC)(link)
It's true - I'm a dang good babysitter. Which is why I charge a decent amount of money. Heck, I'm 30 and have a handful of advanced degrees... so I definitely think I'm worth more than the teenager around the corner. ;)

[identity profile] ullrsawah.livejournal.com 2005-12-08 10:52 am (UTC)(link)
Absolutely!