Episode Zzzzzz
Dear mummy, what is it with sleep? It seems you are always on the eternal quest for it.
More precious than Credit Ingots. More rare than Kenner “Power of the Force” coins. You cannot buy sleep (well a night in a hotel might help) You cannot make it magically appear either by using the force.
Sometimes it happens, sometimes it doesn’t.
I’m talking about toddler sleep, or more precisely my sleep patterns. I’m probably not as challenging compared to some children out there my age. But here are the gripes my folks have…
I always lead them into a false sense of security. Just when I’m sleeping in a routine from 7pm to 7am for a week suddenly it all goes wrong like the battle on hoth.
The toddler awakens – battles at bedtime.
I don’t know about you but I love playing up at bedtime. I try every trick in the book like Han Solo to delay the inevitable.
More books, more milk and more trips to the Death Potty. They weren’t lying when they said putting a toddler to bed was like putting a drunk friend to bed…the only thing is I don’t pass out. Oh no… In fact quite the opposite.
I’ve been heard singing a Twinkle Twinkle Little Star mash-up with Baa Baa Black Sheep that even DJ Hype would be proud of. Having full blown conversations with my soft plush Stormtrooper, asking about his day and mumbling my way through mine. I’ve even tried a spot of disco dancing on my pillow. But it always leads to the dreaded back rub clearly the force is strong in me as my folks always give in. This is clearly not the sleep I am looking for.
A rod created for her own back, my mummy thought it would be nice to give me the occasional back rub at night (she loves them too) …now it’s every night, during the night and in the mornings!!! And no simple back rub I hasten to add. Only the best for me, I even give my folks instructions on how I like it! “Faster mummy” or “No mummy, up and down!” Sometimes it goes on and on and on…this padawan has become the master over night!
The back rub isn’t the only problem it’s the systematic piercing wails in the middle of the night for “mum-maaaay” or “dad-daaaaay” which jolt my folks out of their comfortable sleep and onto the front line of toddler despair like Luke when he learns Uncle Darth is he father (Daddy has a toddler size Darth Vader who I affectionately call Uncle). Battling the darkness as their eyes adjust to the light and tripping over their own feet like zombie troopers.
Thankfully I go back to sleep after a ‘little’ back rub 😉 However their ears prick up at the slightest of noises and it takes them a bit longer to get back to the land of nod.
My daddy occasionally (in his best Obi-Wan impression) tells me “this IS the sleep you are looking for” but I still persist.
Some nights I sleep right through and my folks wake up in the morning and wonder if it’s still the night-time.
Some nights my folks can be up 3 or 4 times. I don’t come to them, they come to me! I’m too lazy to get up you see 😉
How do your little ones sleep?
My daddy is off to see StarWars – The Force Awakens preview screening tonight (early tomorrow) the question is…will he use the force and coax me back to sleep or will he give in to the dark side and give me my back rub.
The saga will continue….
Love Bella x
dearmummyblog.com 
LOL This is very funny. I enjoyed reading it. I haven’t managed to totally win my wife over to Star Wars yet! Time will tell. I have managed to convert my step daughter though.
You will learn young padawan 😉 we’re jealous that daddy went to see it tonight! Hopefully he will keep shtoom and not give away spoilers!
Lol – superb! We have four, two good sleepers and two crap sleepers – night time is as busy as daytime here #brilliantblogposts
We’re still up….nearly the witching hour… 😉
The Death Potty! Priceless. We’re going to see Star Wars this afternoon and will look carefully for your cameo
Sounds like you give Mummy and Daddy the run around, I recommend a good night for happy play the next day. #PoCoLo
very clever
Haha Very cleverly written. My toddler Evelyn loves the back rub too. She snooze off very easily with that. Thank you for linking up with me. Have a lovely Christmas holiday! Xx #FabFridayPost
I’m so glad I’m not alone, my little ones are very much like you little one with their sleep. The fault pretence is the worst. Thanks for linking up to #justanotherlinky xx
I read this on a different linky but I loved it just as much the second time around 🙂 Also I LOVE your Star Wars themed pics, so cool! Thanks so much for linking up at #KCACOLS. Hope you come back again in the New Year xx
This is lost on me as I’m not a Star Wars fan however I can appreciate the creativity! ☺️ #KCACOLS
hahahahaha this is so good!!! Oh Bella…very much like little Evie. Up a lot at night, parents made a rod for their back by letting her stay in their room occasionally or stroking her hair till she goes back to sleep. Ooops!!! I hope Daddy loved Star Wars!! I’m so jealous. I cannot wait to see it. xxx #KCACOLS
Ha ha. A post with a timely Star Wars theme – excellent! Watched it yesterday, but won’t spill any beans!!
Sleep? What is this sleep you speak of? My daughter took almost 2 years to settle into her 7pm-7am routine. She’s now 7 and sleeps beautifully. My son, who slept brilliantly pre-toddlerhood, is now 6, and often spends his night in our bed. Yes, yes, I know, backs, & rods, but I’m ok with it. He’s not going to be sneaking in with us when he’s 12, so I enjoy my nightly intrusions. xx
#KCACOLS
I have to confess I have never seen Star Wars but I do have a bit of firsthand experience with a wakeful toddler, so found this funny and relatable even though all of the references sailed over my out-of-touch head, haha!
Haha so funny. We’re off to see Star Wars tonight, so excited. My man sleeps 7-7 pretty much every night, when he doesn’t I have no idea what to do in the middle of the night. So cute baby Bella asks for a back rub!xx #kcacols
Ah, Bella. I didn’t realise that The Force was at work here. I’ll bear that in mind when the Tot wakes me up for a midnight wee tonight 🙂 I hope your dad enjoyed the preview. I think we’ll have to wait until Star Wars comes out on DVD – we’ve just used a babysitting credit to see SPECTRE #KCACOLS
I think my folks have used their babysitter credits up too!!
Ok, I..really LOVED this! A huge Star Wars Fan, so you can imagine me giggling every step of the way. I had just written my now Star Wars Tribute post as well. May the Force be with you! (and Good Luck)…Death Potty…Bwaahahaha…There is nothing scarier than an overtired child who does not think he needs to nap (that’s mine!!). #KCACOLS
Glad you loved it! We had fun writing it! Looking forward to reading yours 🙂
My now?? Meant my own Star Wars Tribute post LOL…