Hi girls,
Well, I used I&Jsmums words last night. When he heard them around dinner i said "are x and x happy and playing again" and he agreed, "that's wonderful that they are so happy and playing and running around" well, didn't say much else about it until bedtime.
And for the first time ever he actually told me he was tired! egad, i was shocked. He looked at me, rubbed his eyes and said, tired mama, about 3 minutes before we were going up to bedtime!
so bedtime routine went well, no mention of neighbours. I have him repeat to me several times now between picking up at school and bedtime "after books, sleep time in my crib" and the first night a few nights ago i said "no rocking chair" so he adds that in by himself
so, after books I said "after books" and he said "in my crib, no rocking chair". now he didn't go that willingly...but better than recent days. I said i would stay next to him. he was settling relatively well then the kids started up next door. I simply said. "you have woof woof and it's time for sleep, you are safe here with woof woof". he stood up a cried 3 separate times, i would lean over and reassure with the same words. I did not take him out. Eventually he went to sleep but I had to hold both hands. One step at a time I guess.
mari-good idea of acknowleging...but kind of dismissing it/distracting him at the same time. I will try that!
as for the neighbours...they are generally thoughtless, but that's another post (park on their lawn, didn't pay for their fence, have a huge pond of standing water in their backyard, a "rock garden" full of weeds in the front-surrounding their parked car) . sheesh, I need to move!
