Cathn,
Thanks again for the suggestions. Had discussed some of this before w/ DS, but after reading your post decided to have a conversation w/ him again. When asked why he gets out of bed, he consistently replies, "because I'm not tired". When I asked him how we could help him stay in bed, he said, "get my crib back". (I wish!!!) His responses to the importance of sleep are "I don't want to grow and be healthy" etc. Such a stinker!
Talked to him about how DH and I need time at night and I know he heard me but got no response to this.
Sat and Sun were NNDs, BT was around 8 pm, he did get up a lot but was asleep by 8:15-8:30 pm. It was GLORIOUS to have my evenings back! I had emailed his preschool teacher about keeping him awake at nap time so I was really hopeful when I went to pick him up yesterday after work. Only to be told that they planned to keep him awake but he fell asleep when their heads were turned.
He slept for 45 min. So I decided to try letting him listen to a CD of calming songs that he likes, hoping it would keep him in bed. It didn't work.
He got up repeatedly and FINALLY fell asleep around 10:45 pm. Which means he'll be tired today and will nap again, and we are back in this horrible cycle again. . .
I am so frustrated I want to cry. (And did last night!) I am completely out of ideas, I'm exhausted from going to bed too late and getting up w/ him during his NWs, and I am getting absolutely NO downtime in my day. DH has promised to take over tonight to give me a break, but he deals w/ this situation differently (threatens, gives negative consequences like taking away stuffed animals from DS's bed) which don't work either and I'm sure are not helping the situation. We can't get on the same page about how to deal with this (which isn't helping anyone's stress levels). I just want my evenings back!
Thanks for letting me vent. I know others are dealing w/ tougher situations and that this won't go on forever, but oh this is hard!