Never Say Never

Ok, so Jenny is totally going to laugh out loud when she reads this. After watching an episode of Jon & Kate Plus 8, several months back (pre all the drama), I immediately sent Jen an email proclaiming my distaste for Kate having taken her child's lovey away. I don't remember what this lovey actually was, a blanket perhaps, and I think it was because of the those 8 children got gum on it or something...
Regardless, Kate lost my respect as a mom that day. How COULD she take away something that her child was so attached to, so comforted by? It made no sense to me, I couldn't make sense of it in my head at all. She was just the worst mom ever.
I specifically remember Jenny's reply email (by the way, we email about EVERYTHING and then some), and she "laughed" at me over email and basically said "you just wait, this will be like all the other things I've told you and you've had to say "you told me so, but I thought you were crazy at the time..." Ok, so she didn't say that exactly, but that was the general theme of her email. (Can you tell we've been there a few times?)
(Do you remember this, Jen? I know you've got it saved...)

So, here's my secret. Since we've been doing the toddler bed, Walker's been doing great at bedtime. Naptimes on the other hand have been a pure beast, for lack of a better term. He doesn't cry, but he comes out constantly and tortures us with his absolute adorableness...I mean, it shouldn't be allowed for a child to be as charming as he! But, I quickly realized I was losing control when he started darting past me with all his speed to run and jump in my bed...and the clicker came when I realized I'd taken 4 naps, 4 days in a row, beside him in our bed. What?? I never get to nap! I knew something must be done...and fast!

I don't like to spank and I honestly understand the whole "it hurts me more than it hurts you" thing now...that being said, spanking has occurred in our home when necessary. This however was not a situation where spanking did a bit of good. It yielded NO results whatsoever... I was digging through my brain thinking of what I should do, when it dawned on me. Pablo. Yes, I would confiscate Pablo! The mere thought of it caused my heart to break, but I knew it would affect him (not in a way I really wanted it to, but any sort of affect was going to be good at this point...). So, I warned him once after he'd been out a million times this particular day-if you get out of your bed again, mommy is taking Pablo. "noooo, mommy, nooo Pabo." So I sent him back to his bed. Well, he got out again-ok, like my students the threat wasn't enough, so I reached out and I took Pablo. (crack went my heart...) Walker immediately and without hesitation burst into gut-wrenching tears, very large and very real tears and he looked like he'd honestly lost his best friend...much like I'd imagine myself looking if I were to lose one of my dear friends. So I said (all the while forcing back my own tears) "if you don't go get back in your bed and stay there, Pablo is staying with mommy while you take your nap..." and back to his bed he went. He got Pablo back and I got my work done because he stayed in his bed. :) He did cry a few more minutes but he eventually went sound to sleep and when he woke up, guess what? He still loved me! (Ok, Kate Gosselin...I'm so very sorry, I was wrong about you)

This brings us to last night. He got out of his bed again, so I immediately took Pablo without warning and on came the tears, but he went right back to bed and stayed there in order to get Pablo back. Cliff said after he was back in his bed "can't we do something else? I can't stand to see him that hurt..." and I laughed, because HE was the softy in that moment. :) I'm over it-Pablo better beware and keep his little pal in his bed if he doesn't want to spend the night stuffed in my underwear drawer!