Remember a few weeks ago when I rambled about the mirror ball movement? I ordered one off of ebay. As you can tell from the photo, we are now the proud owners of not one… but two mirror balls. TADA!
But let’s back up for a second.
I’m in the middle of sleep training Emerson.
Yep. You read that right.
Other people are sleep training their babies. I’m giving it my best shot with our five year old.
Emmy has never once slept consistently in her bed. We’ve tried. From Hello Kitty, to threatening her within an inch of her life. We even turned her doorknob around so that the lock is on the outside, which we only tried once and results in an awkward convo every time anyone notices. They totally think I’m a psychopath who locks her daughter in the bedroom for weeks on end. It puts the lotion on its skin! That’s how we roll in Alabama, y’all.
I could cover our entire history here, but anyone who’s been there knows it’s rough. It is what it is. The main issue is that we’ve never been consistent. Jamin gets up with her and she screams for a while like some weirdo and I ignore her because I’m basically one cell shy of a flesh eating zombie when I’m sleeping. So I pull her into the bed. Sleep is priceless, I tell you. If I don’t get my sleep, Jamin’s afraid he’ll find me on the roof in the fetal position singing scary songs and petting a chicken egg. When it comes down to it I’m a softy. But all things in moderation and maybe it’s time to step it up a notch.
When she’s not with us, all three babes are climbing into the loft. There is no more room for three in the boys’ space. She claims the boys’ bed is ‘fun’ but also refuses to give up her room… as it turns out, five year old girls are opinionated.
So, I said all of that to say I have a plan.
If Emerson can earn enough “sleeps” in her current bed, she will get a ‘fun bed like the boys’. So, we’re in the middle of sleep training our five year old. It’s not a big deal if she climbs into bed with us occasionally, but my point is she has a perfectly good space and she continues to play musical beds. Has anyone ever had to sleep train a five year old before? Is the correct term bed train? Do they come with kits in a combo of alarms and nets those things kids wear in the mall with a leash attached to their backpack? Because I’ll totally take two.
I mean, I get it. Everyone else in the house has a room mate. We even tried putting Chloe in her room last night. But Chloe has a bladder infection and hates everyone right now.
Do you ever feel like your dog just might think this? I responded by telling her she had a mustache. Chapman-esque. Borderline Hitler. I may take her to get it bleached next week. Stop judging me, dog. JK. I love that mustache face.
I was going to vamp up her space to a more age appropriate status anyway, but now she’ll think she earned it. And appreciate it more. While she sleeps in it consistently. Two birds. One stone. At least that’s how it will work in my world. It’s funny how the different phases can affect the way you feel about your home. Getting Emerson settled into her space would work wonders for everyone’s psyche. And tone it down in the bedtime melodrama department.
So, mommy bemoaning aside… enter : Mirror ball.
I wanted one for myself, but ended up ordering one for her. (Secretly, it’s still for me.) It was to be an enticing preview, if you will to the spectacular grandeur that could be her new space. Because the girl loves sparkles, Nightlight + Mirror ball = infinitesimal amazingness = take that, fluffy animals that shine stars on the ceiling with the obnoxious jingle in my head and scare me as a fire hazard. (Because I hear mirror balls left in the sun too long are also legit.)
When it came in the mail I was stoked. I was like that kid on a Christmas Story and couldn’t rip the package open fast enough. It was 30 inches (read : huge) and actually cheap, considering the other prices I’d seen.
From afar it looked fine, but from closer inspection, it was split, cracked, chipped, buckled… frustrating. So we contacted ebay dude and we were all, ebay dude! This one’s broken! And we took pictures and everything because we didn’t want him to think we were big fat liars. So he said he could refund us, or send us a second mirror ball.
Well, Um, I kind of wanted a mirror ball.
Saturday the power went off just as I made my coffee, and I was pumped that I made the cut. For some reason, I felt oddly triumphant. Then I asked Jamin when my mirror ball was supposed to arrive and the doorbell rang. I looked at him and asked if I was dreaming or in a movie, because things were looking on the up and up.
But when I opened said second mirror ball, I was reminded that I do very much live in real life. It looked like this. Much worse than the first.
So we asked for our moolah back. I paid 75 dollars + shipping and yes that was frivolous but I wanted it and I have a small frivolous fund and sue me. I just spied one the same size for 800 on ebay that must be made of emerald diamonds and dipped in platinum with a curbside service via fluffy cupids with angel wings, so I felt like this was a good price for such a large size. But therein lies the problem. Apparently there’s an underworld of poorly made black market mirror balls, and the machines and/or people that stick the mirrors on. Someone got a hand cramp.
First world problems.
So now I’m stuck with the Rubik’s cube labrynth nightmare of mirror balls. I didn’t want to look the gift horse in the mouth, and there’s something about the DIYer in me that can’t let two perfectly good mirror balls go to waste for free. Even if they are a bit wonky.
I mean can you imagine what a travesty it is to have these two potential beauties in a landfill somewhere?
So here we go.
A Frankenball transplant operation. I spent about an hour looking at it today, and now have glass shards stuck in my fingers and hot glue burns on my arms. Awesome. I’m still not sure which one will be donor ball, and which one will be Frankenball, as I only got a few layers in, working line by line in the tiny little obnoxious mirrors. Maybe I should have donor ball at the garage sale as a freebie because I’m sure that someone else can repair even that one with tiny crafting mirrorball parts… anyone? Bueller?
I have purging to do, children to raise, meals to cook, and a house to clean… but I’m easily distracted by shiny things. Make that two really large free shiny things, and I’m done for.
But oh how we do love that sparkle…
So would you try to piece it back together? Or give up and trash two wonky mirror balls? It’s trickier than it looks… and cray cray, right? …Said the woman who wants to redo her daughter’s room and thinks her dog is judging her.
The more important question : Do your kids still sleep with you? Are dog crates out of the question? Do I really mind that much?
Dianne says
Our youngest is 4 and constant is coming into either our bed or my older sons bed. Unfortunately that means that either us or my son is getting no sleep. I think he’s just so darn co-dependent…and afraid to sleep on his own. So, of course…we do the same thing…drag him up in bed cause momma needs to sleep š Good luck, and let me know if you find success.
Pat says
When my daughter was 3 she decided she would start getting up after she had been put to bed – several times a night, so I feel your pain. We went the drastic route. One night, I put her to bed, closed her door (she was used to that) and sat (and slept) in a chair outside her room. Every time she opened the door, I pointed to her bed without saying a word. At first she would cry and try to negotiate. I refused to talk to her. I stayed calm (as calm as I could!) with my mouth shut and pointed to her bed. Eventually she would go back to bed. She got up a million times that night but it only took one exhausting night. The next night I sat in the chair until she was asleep and that was it. The third night – no chair. And mommy and daddy slept happily ever after :).
Tennille Mykula says
I was going to suggest a similar thing. I think this is what the Super Nanny does with toddlers and it seems to work everytime. It’s more of an anxiety issure for the kids. They need to know that you’re still there. Once they do, sleep comes more naturally.
Sandy says
I hesitate to post this because I assume you will get other suggestions, but I can’t recommend the Sleep Buddy system strongly enough. It is a very simple light that stays on when you want them to sleep and turns off when they can get up. I didn’t want it to be too cutesy, as that was not the point for our little dude. It comes wrapped like a present for them to open and with a little book that explains the concept. I use it with my three year old, so I am sure it would work with older kids. If he gets up when the light is on, we just tell him that he needs to go back to bed until the sleep buddy goes off. Takes the responsibility off you as the bad guy. And, it also comes with a reward system. Might be a good way to get to the “fun bed.” It was around $40 on Amazon, and while I know it’s pricey, I would totally do it again in a second!
ashley @ the handmade home says
At this point, I will pay 500 if someone will come and sit in a chair for me. ;} This is interesting-I’ll have to check it out.
Megan @ Rappsody in Rooms says
Keep them and make them work! I know you can do it! It will be worth it. Those mirrorballs are awesome. Maybe you can put them somewhere that is far up and you can’t really see how they are mangled but still get the sparkle?
ashley @ the handmade home says
haha thanks friend! I am working on it! ;}
Laura says
My daughter will be 5 next month and she has a permanent pallet in our room because she has NEVER slept a night in her own bed. We’ve tried it all. night lights, pillow pets, bribes, prizes. Nothing works. She starts out in her room but never stays past 1am. She is an only child and is terrified of sleeping by herself. She will literally cry for hours in her bed if i make her stay up there. Will power that only a child could muster. No one rests. i feel bad because she is upstairs all by herself. We were actually going to do the bed bribe next. i am excited to see what y’all come up with. we might use it in her room!
ashley @ the handmade home says
I’m just glad I’m not alone in this. I was starting to think something was “wrong” to tell the truth. š Last night was a doozy. like I said, occasionally is okay, but she’s running her brothers out of their bed, and constantly sleeping with us if not with them. sheesh this is hard.
Laura says
Child #4 will be 6 next month. He slept like a dream until he was about 2, but he has been up and down during the night since then. He has been crashing through doors into our room between 12:30 and 3 am EVERY NIGHT for the last 6 months! He has a will that is stronger than ours in the middle of the night, and we would like the rest of the household to sleep. Our solution? A toddler bed in the corner of our room! I feel like The Biggest Loser, except instead of losing weight, I have gained a 60 lb. kindergartner in our room! He shares a room with his 2 sisters, so it’s not that he is alone. My consolation is that this WILL NOT last forever. And also that I don’t have to share a bed with him! I used to think there was something wrong with parents who had kids sleeping in their room. After 4 kids and nearly 19 years of parenting, I am all out of theories. You do what you need to for your family (like your post yesterday about rest). If the critics don’t like it, oh well! May your training be successful and your disco balls be repairable!
Carla says
I am sooooo jealous of your mirror balls….wonky or not! Keep them for sure! You will think of something.
I have two older children, 13 and 10. When my 13 year old was younger, she never would stay in her bed. I even bungee corded her door shut (wasn’t smart enough to turn the knob around!). Think we made it through half of one night with that….it was horrible (more so on me than her, I think). I eventually did the pallet on the floor thing, and that worked for us. At first, she’d start out every night on the pallet. Later, she’d start out in her bed and then move to the pallet in the middle of the night. And then one day, she just grew out of it and eventually just started staying in her own bed. I can’t tell you when that was, but it was maybe at age 7 or 8. She’s strong willed so it really just had to be her idea.
My 10 year old is more laid back. When he was little, he just wanted to be put to bed and left alone. When he got older, he wanted to come into my room more. I cut a deal with him that he could have a “sleepover” on a pallet every other Friday night. He loved the idea of a sleepover, and that worked for him.
All this to say….what works for one child may not work for another. And what works now, may not even work next week. Just hang in there. The fact that you’re trying all different things means that you will get there! š
ashley @ the handmade home says
thanks man! I think that regardless of all this spent energy, they do eventually grow out of it. Like I said, I’m a softy. as long as she’s working towards it, it counts, right? ;}
Carrie says
I feel your pain. Our four year old has finally (!) started to come to our room in the middle of the night and sleep on our couch. She still wakes me up some nights before getting on said couch, but other nights she just lies down without waking us. Not perfect, but better then the crying in her bed every single night or sleeping sideways in bed with us. I dream of the day we get a full night’s sleep for days on end.
Anna@agoodhome says
You should DEFINITELY make a Frankenball! No way can you toss both! Although, I’m sure it’s going to be annoying. Just keep repeating to yourself: “Sparkles and a kid-free bed. Sparkles and a kid-free bed.”
Our kids actually never slept in our bed or room at all. That’s only because I take the need for sleep to an even crazier, manic-er (what?) madness level than anyone on the planet. I completely implode with too little sleep. It is NOT pretty. Our trick for keeping our daughter (who is also 5) in her bed all night is letting her have a cd playing all night long. It really works for the “But I’m all alone in here” tactic. We have several calm lullaby-ish cds that she gets to choose from, and then we just turn it on repeat for the whole night. Maybe Emerson would go for something like that? Good luck, friend!
ashley @ the handmade home says
sticking that one in my back pocket for later! ;}
Amanda @ the Bay Bush says
We have two girls (ages 5 and 3). They sleep with us. Sometimes my husband sleeps in their room with one of them and the other sleeps in our bed with me. Sometimes I sleep with both of them. Sometimes they drive me to the brink of insanity arguing over who gets to sleep in the middle.
It is rough. I lose sleep. They will not go to sleep unless someone lays down with them. And I inevitabily fall asleep while I’m waiting for them to fall asleep. #wenttobedat9lastnight
But I kind of like it too. Surely it won’t last forever. (But I was singing a different tune last night during World War III over who was going to sleep in the middle.)
Suzette says
I am dying! That was hilarious! Just wait until she’s 13 and you’ll have to bribe her to come OUT of her room! Believe me, I’m there! Thanks for the morning laugh!
Suzette says
Ooooo, I just remembered that we did the CD thing, too. When he was that age, we were in a store once and he said, “Hey, Mom, it’s Vivaldi.” Others were impressed but it was just his nighttime sleepy music! We also played Sleep, Baby, Sleep by Nicolette Larson. Wow, sweet memories of my now 8th grader!
ashley @ the handmade home says
I will have to try the cd thing! And Jamin said this is about when she’s older as a teenager and railroads us all the time. ;} oh the fun we have to look forward to! ;}
Gracie says
I just wanted to drop a note and say I feel your pain. We have three kids too…two boys and a girl. My two boys have always been great sleepers, I mean really great. Sleeping through the night from the time they were just a few weeks old. I thought it must have something to do with my great parenting skills….ha ha. š Anyways, I guess I got just a little too cocky because along came our girl and holy mackerel this kid can’t seem to make it through ONE night without crying out 5-6 times. I’m going crazy over here. I’m with you. I need my sleep or I’m a mess to deal with. She is almost 3 and I keep thinking at some point she has to sleep, right? Anyways, good luck with the new room idea! Hopefully it will work and you can get some rest!
Jessica says
I have no sleep training advice for ya, but wanted to let you know that you are not alone on the whole turning the door knob around thing. My friend’s parents did that to her when she was young. She grew up unscathed and has considered turning her own daughter’s door knob around. Mischief must be genetic!
Leslie says
Bless your heart! My daughter used to say, “I don’t care if it’s an adult or a child but I want something ALIVE in the bed with me!” (Me, her dad or her brother — as long as “it” was alive!) Ours were in the bed with us off and on throughout their lives. When our daughter was 5, I think one of us would lay down with her in her bed and then sneak downstairs to our room. Most nights, there were eventually feet on the stairs. Honestly, we didn’t hate it! And they are now both grown, married and seem to be very well adjusted! My daughter, a nurse, just had her first baby and knew all the “rules” about sleeping with parents — but precious Evangeline does end up in the bed with them on occasion! All this to say, I’m sure you’re doing fine and your kids seem great! And this season goes by super fast. (P.S. The night before she married, our daughter tiptoed downstairs and crawled in the bed with us. I wouldn’t trade that last snuggle for anything). Give yourself some grace, Mom. You’re awesome!
Elizabeth @ The Little Black Door says
I’ve been pricing out DIY’ing one for myself, I mean, for my girls. All the supplies are at Michael’s and it should be only around $30 bucks. If I ever get around to doing it, I’ll be sure to let you know how it turned out!
ashley @ the handmade home says
please do! Right now I’m all, I hate my liiiiiife while I try to glue it. ;}
alaina says
I woke up this morning and I was on the couch, my husband on the love seat, my 3 year old in my bed and my 6 year old on the living room floor. We have beds people!
Molly Richardson says
I’ve been there…correction, am there! My son is the same age and we have been successful over the past couple of weeks by giving him quarters in the morning after he sleeps all night in his bed. This was adding up though, so now he gets a $1 for every 7 days. I told him if he wants to come in that’s fine, but no quarter (or one more day longer–it doesn’t have to be 7 in a row, just 7 total– for the $1). So far it has really worked (fingers, toes etc. crossed). I think it has helped that the ball is really in his court and it’s his decision…he’s kinda hard headed and really doesn’t like to do anything that he’s “told” to do, but if he thinks it’s his idea he’ll do almost anything:)! Eventually we will phase out the money all together, and truth be told, some of the quarters and $1 bills have been recycled from his stash when my purse was empty. Best of luck! Parenting is HARD!
melissa says
Too funny! I was just talking with my husband this morning about this subject. My daughter is 4 and has always slept with us. She has her own room with the fancy hello kitty bedding, decals, and everything else she wanted, to get to her sleep in that room. It worked for 1 hour each time and she was back in my bed. It’s me. Totally me. I need sleep. She comes in my room and and cries and I just pull her in my bed so I can go back to sleep. I do not have the will power to get up, bring her back to her bed and stay up for hours listening to her scream. My idea? I am bring her toddler bed in my room. Have her sleep on that for a bit. Then (hopefully!) move it back into her room. I like the music ideas. She is scared of every little noise she hears. That may help. Glad to know that I am not the only parent with a child that refuses to sleep by herself. I was beginning to think there was something “wrong”
Bethany Herrington says
I am like you and treasure my sleep. So when my 7 year old would come into our bed I’d let him. Although I also have an issue with sleep walking and talking, so I’m pretty much out of my mind in the middle of the night. The husband says I talk to my son and then he works out a deal with me to sleep in between us just one more night. David always goes to bed just fine, but then always wakes up around 2:00 wanting to snuggle in our bed. Finally, on his 8th birthday my husband had enough and said 8 year olds shouldn’t sleep with their parents so he started locking our door. It works. Now when I hear David knocking I am usually able to open the door and walk him back to his room. But then I end up laying with him in his bed. I am not sure if this is fixing the problem, but at least daddy isn’t getting kicked in the shin by the year old when he sleeps.
ashley @ the handmade home says
HAHAHA I think there’s something about the daddies not wanting the babies in the bed, but the mamas don’t mind all that much?? ;}Just glad I’m not alone!
Marion says
My 3 ad 5 yr old sleep in my room on a mattress on the floor. My son used to sleep alone until we bought a split master home – it’ll be nice in the future, right? My 3 yr old has ALWAYS put up an enormous fight about sleeping in here bed. We’ve tried EVERYTHING. I’m ready to get rid of that mattress on my bedroom floor, but like you said, sleep is priceless. And in my world today, it doesn’t bother me b/c there are much more important battles to fight. But, one day….
kim says
I kept a sleeping bag on the floor next to me so that the one child that came wondering in I could just kind of push him into it-
Kelly says
I do remember the “stay in bed” time with my kids. Our solution? Flashlights – the Fisher Price kind that turn off on their own after 1 min of not holding down the button. Different colours and patterns. Both kids loved them and with their doors open would signal each other across the hall. We were fine with that as long as they stayed in their beds.
As for dog crates, would always crate train a dog!!! We have 2 Basset Hounds, Rosie and Dexter. When it’s time for bed we just say “bed time” and off they go. If you don’t shut the door quickly enough, they step out to see where you are. It’s their “bedroom”, their safe place if they need it, and never a place for punishment. The crates are invaluable if you are trying to do things without a wet nose in the middle of it (i.e.. bring in groceries, etc.) or if someone is visiting who is unsure of dogs and the dogs are quite content to lay in their space. Maybe they would enjoy Mirror Balls??
ashley @ the handmade home says
haha yes we have a crate for our dog… I was talking about sticking Emerson in one! ;}
Jenna at Homeslice says
If you figure out how to sleep train her, let me know. We’ve had the same problem with our three year old…. 4:00am…every…night… ah!
Marsha Sefcik says
I have two twin beds in my son’s room and that is where my 5 yr old daughter sleeps. she will not sleep through a night in her own room but, we put her in there and she sleeps soundly all night long- a full 12 hours in fact. we all get some sleep and she has the comfort of her brother in a bed next to her. there is the odd night that one of them will climb into our bed for comfort if they have a bad dream but, i think that is to be expected at their age. good luck! I know I’m a grumpy bear of a mama if I do not get my sleep.
digifigi says
On the Mirror Ball: If you step about 6 feet back from the ball can you really see the imperfections? Remember, this thing was made to be hung from a ceiling at least 6 feet from eyes if not 12 or 20 or more.
Ann says
Mine is now 15. Until the age of 2 she wouldn’t sleep in her crib. Hated it. We even had a screaming match in her room where I ended up falling asleep on her floor. How the neighbors chose not to call Child Services on me is a blessing. Thank you neighbors. As soon as I got her “a big girl bed”, I never had any problems keeping her in bed. Granted I’m a single mother and most nights I would fall asleep in her bed with her. Wait, maybe I never did get the hang of that. Uh… I need to make her do some extra cleaning now.
Rebecca says
My son is 3 and we have two things that work pretty well. First is Scout (or Violet for girls). It is a leapfrog stuffed dog that is programable for your kid. you pick nighttime songs, favorite colors animals etc. You can even put the kids name into the program so the dog talks to your kid by name. It works wonders for us. We go NOWHERE overnight without Scout. That and it is maybe 30 dollars? We have had Scout since Evan was 1. Best gift EVER.
The other thing that seems to work is what someone else has said. Have a slumber party night. Heck make it really fun and have a kids movie night and then a slumber party. It makes your kid feel so much more grown up when they get a special slumber party night as a reward. Maybe even try having the reward being a friend spending the night rather then them spending the night with you. It is something for your kid to look forward too all month and plan for.
Lisha says
I have an almost 3 yr old who gets up lots. I usually end up sleeping in his bed from midnight on so my husband can get his sleep lol. Really want to try the Gro Clock, wondering if anyone has tried it and if they have had success!!?! Sorry I didn’t read all the other comments if someone mentioned it already. Thanks
Natalie says
you crack me up… i feel your pain of no sleep. i have a 3, 7 and 9 year old and every night is a joke! i love em’, i love the snuggling, but i got a hot hubby AND i need the rest! i don’t think i’ve had a full nights sleep since… well… 9 years ago! and secretly, we’ve got one in the oven! oh yeah! so, you’ve sparked a flame! i have 9 months to sleep train these youngins! wish me luck and to you the same! keep up your funny words { im not new here, but new to commenting~ always enjoy}
ashley @ the handmade home says
bwahahahahaha! congratulations! but I mean seriously. are we supposed to sneak out?
Kristi@VisibleVoice says
This may sound weird but look into a weighted blanket for your daughter. I had a friend who’s older son woke up all night and didnt sleep well and they got him a weighted blanket and it worked. I think I’d do well with one. Just do some research on weighted blanket benefits and reasons for kids. Just a thought. Sometimes I get bossy with people I blog stalk. š
ashley @ the handmade home says
bossy pants! I will NOT buy a weighted blanket! just kidding. that’s actually a really good idea too. You guys are giving me some good ideas. More of a nighttime ritual kind of thing sounds like a winner to me! ;} Aint nobody got any time for any of this! help me!
tanya says
Reading this was like walking down memory lane and through my own thought process. We too went through sleep issues, tried the whole lock thing — basically went through ‘family crisis’ mode before turning a corner. I tried every trick in the book with my 2nd son — he was older than Emerson by 2 years and very stubborn. Wouldn’t go for any reward program, punishment program or pleading program. Eventually I “solved” the sleep issue by letting him ‘camp’ in our room. Every night he brought up his sleeping bag and pillow and layed down next to our bed and every morning he toted all his stuff back down to his room. This went on for a while, probably about 6 months actually. Eventually I got him to ‘camp’ in the office room right next to us, and then about a YEAR later, back to his room. Now at almost 11 we still have nights where he has issues and has to sleep on the couch upstairs (close to us). We had a family bed for all our boys, and it sounds like I covet my sleep as much as you. He was (and still is) my attached boy – and he didn’t want to sleep alone. Making her room over might work — it didn’t for me — neither did toys, candy…or money, screaming, crying (me) or ignoring. š — but just know that she just wants to be close and to feel safe. Hang in there. Oh and I would totally try and fix the disco balls..free or not… I’m jealous you have 2.
AnnMarie says
bahhhaaha thanks for the good chuckle today! I totally would try to fix those dang things. They look awesome from afar! And yes my two year old has started that habit of getting into our bed around 5 a.m. It’s not so bad but I don’t want it to escalate so I might have to nip it!. Good luck with everything!!!
Pamelotta says
My youngest is about to be 7 and they all sleep like rocks so I’m a little past that stage, but I do feel your pain. I’m a couple cells short of a zombie, too when I wake up out of a dead sleep. Or should that be undead sleep.
I do have a question about the whole ‘mirror ball’ thing. When did they become ‘mirror balls’? I have always and will always know them as disco balls. Is it like when they started calling used cars ‘preowned’? I guess if you’re using them as a design element, you want a more descriptive design word. And not fill people’s heads with visions of Polyester bell bottoms and pointing fingers up and down in a diagonal fashion.
Yeah, ok, I just answered my own question.
ashley @ the handmade home says
I have called them mirror balls ever since Sarah McLachlan’s album in high school. ;} And your comment made me laugh! so true!
Amber says
We changed our son’s door knob around too! Life has been so much better since! haha I try to remember to unlock it when i go to bed. He is not one that gets up in the middle of the night, fortunately….knock on wood.
Tennille Mykula says
Ok Ashley, please don’t hate me but I’ve never had this problem. I have the kind of kids that have to be woken up on Christmas morning. Well, almost. My 22 month old sleeps til 8 every morning. I was thinking though, maybe you should lock the boys room so she can’t get in there. And the pallet on the floor thing is a good idea. We tried this with our one daughter when she was going through a period of having nightmares. She was with us but could wiggle away on the floor without waking us. Also, maybe pray and ask the Lord for wisdom. Maybe there’s something specific she’s afraid of that you just need to pray into. Regarding the mirror balls, go for broke. Be the crazy DIYer who hits the craft store and make them both work. They are so fun!
Rebecca says
Ferber Sleep Training method. Read the book. It can change your world!
Genevieve Williams says
I love reading your posts. I do not have children, but enjoy reading about your life’s antics!! As for the DIY balls…you absolutely HAVE to keep them both! Complete one for your daughter and if the moment moves you, make a second for yourself. However, I feel a house really may only need one mirrored ball. In which case, I would imagine once you have successfully donned a mirrored ball in your daughters room, others many be interested in your second one and then you could add a few $$ to your slush fund for the next cra-cra purchase!! š
Michele Nelson says
I agree, no kids in this home, but the stories are great. Secretly thankful for that at this moment. Keep the 2nd mirror ball for “spare parts”, just in case.
Tracy says
Ha this post made me laugh out loud and I would totally fix the Frankenball and keep the other one around for a rainy day. Depending on where the mirrors are removed from, maybe you could use the leftover ball for an Xmas tree topper or slice it in half and mount it on a gallery wall (or maybe even do something a bit more crafty with it, like replacing a globe with a disco ball?). Good luck and keep us posted!
Hillary @ The Friendly Home says
I think I must be really lucky because my kids have never (except when forced to in a hotel) shared a bed with me. It probably helps that our bedroom is downstairs and theirs are upstairs, but really, they’ve just always fallen asleep early and slept deeply. They don’t even come get me when they’re sick!
I like the wonky mirror balls. They have character. š
ashley @ the handmade home says
I was starting to unlike you with your first paragraph from pure jealousy, and then you made up for it in your final sentence. ;} Just kidding. Maybe.
Beth S. says
I still have issues with my 15 1/2 year old daughter! Good luck! Maybe I should get her a mirrored ball!
I would try to save the mirror ball. When it’s hanging I would think it wouldn’t be so bad. Would a different glue be easier?
Erin says
My son did not sleep through the night even 1 time until he was 18 months old. Then we played musical beds until he was 3.5 and woke up at 5 a.m. most mornings. We then bought the Tot Clock which you can set for bedtime and wake up. It turns blue when it’s time to go to sleep and yellow when it’s time to wake up. We created a reward system for him staying in his bed until it turned yellow each morning for so many days. He was pretty proud of himself for doing it. We don’t use the clock much anymore (he’s 4.5 now), and he only wakes up once every few weeks now.
Good luck! Oh, and I’d probably try to fix the mirror ball and then curse myself the whole time for it.
sarah says
Okay, normally I’m not much of a commenter but I had to say something because we have our kids’ door knobs switched around, too. I don’t even feel weird about it. They’re fed and watered before bed – potty done, and teeth brushed, too. It worked until they figured out how to pick the lock. (Kids are too smart) So know I’m threatening to just take the door knob off on their side. I have a baby and I am one more bad night’s sleep away from a melt down (Do you have any eggs I could borrow?) …My thoughts? Lock her in, barricade the door, whatever. Lots of love and reassurance at bed time, a special good morning gift for making it through the night. She’ll scream. You’ll feel tremendous quilt. But in probably less than a week everyone will be sleeping better. Sleep time is when little brains grow and develop so it’s just as important for her to sleep through the night as it is for you! Good luck!
Gina says
Oh man. I want to say I’d do the work, but mama’s lazy and I haven’t got time for that. But, I want to be the kind of person who would fix it, so I’m not sure what to say!
As for the sleeping thing… My three-almost-four-year-old is the bad one. Sister is up and down all night long some nights and begs to sleep with us about a third of the time. We’ve got her in her bed, but it’s still not super restful at my place. My only words of advice are, whatever you do, stick to it. If I let Eva into my bed even ONE NIGHT, then the next seven are hell on earth with her begging, pleading, and crying to come back. GOOD LUCK!
Gina says
Forgot to comment that I get the whole doorknob backwards thing. We put a child safety door knob on the inside of Eva’s room after she wandered down the stairs in the pitch black one night when she was two. People acted like I was cruel and crazy, but she was safer in there than wandering the house at night.
Kim @ Plumberry Pie says
you are soooo funny! crackin me up left and right. confession, my husband snuggles w/one kid and I w/the other in each kids’ room…then we parents wake up in the middle of the night to return to our own room. yep, we have no nightlife downtime. we should probably do something about that too.;)
Kim @ Plumberry Pie says
oh, and i would keep at least one of those mirror ball beauties. if you hang it, will anyone notice the wonkiness?
Haley says
Our 3 1/2 year old daughter does the same thing at night. Lots of screaming. Lots of crying. Lots of me curling into a fetal position and rocking back and forth. š The one thing that helps (sometimes) is playing books on cd. Yes, she messes with the player. But, it really is magical when it works. I like to tell myself it is helping to develop vocabulary too. Her fav is Winnie the Pooh Hundred Acre Woods. Something about the british accent, I think. We check cds out from the library so she can choose, but Winnie has been the best. Good luck!
Bonnie C says
1. LOL! I think a mirror ball is so cool! Mt girl would be all over that like white on rice. ;p
2. When my oldest (the Girl) was sleep training (2ish) we didn’t turn the knob around BUT we did put a toddler proof knob cap on the INSIDE of her door to trap her in. She HATED it – lol! But she also figured out really fast that if she kept her butt in her bed, Momma took the knob off. When people would ask (generally horrified) why it was that way, I would look them dead in the eye and say, “To keep her ass in her bed when I put it there.” And then let them stutter around for new topic since this one is obviously a closed one.
3. I have 3 now, the Baby is still in a crib, thank dog, but the Girl and the Boy still roll in on occasion in the middle of the night. They go through phases, but I don’t usually see them more than a few times a month anymore (they’re 8 & 6, respectively). I also suffer from the zombie syndrome so I always just scoot over and make room when they pop up. They’re VERY independent & avoid any daytime snuggles like the plague so I figure I’ll take what I can get as long as I can.
Good luck!
Karen says
It’s a first world problem. Kids don’t sleep alone in most of the world and throughout history. My daughter is 8 and stubborn and she stays in her bed most nights now but it’s been a slow progression. She has everything lovely, cozy and happy about her room but that’s never enough. And, many things in her room were “rewards” for staying but then she regressed. Do you take them back? Frankly, we’ve had 3 crazy storms in the last two years, why would every night feel safe to her? We got a king-sized bed 3yrs ago but I love the pallet idea. She has to start in her room and she can come in later.
ashley @ the handmade home says
Hey Karen! After four nights of dealing with her… I see why we deal with it on and off. I’m ready to call it quits. š Thinking about the pallet thing, too. It’s just exhausting… who has time to sleep train at night when we’re dealing with so much during the day?! why is life so haaaaard?? waaaaaaahhhh! first world problems, indeed. haha! I need coffee! ;}
Amanda Hutchison says
Keep them both… I see a funky cool light fixture in the making!
I must know when this garage sale is you speak of!!! (I’m not far from you š )
* I did not mean that to sound as stalkerish as it seemed… My apologies!*
ashley @ the handmade home says
That’s not stalkerish at all! I would love to know when it is, too! ;} I’ll keep y’all posted. I’m excited! It’s just that this purging process has been stop and go… so we pushed it back to make room for everything we want to get rid of. ;} Thanks for being interested!
Lasso the Moon says
If there is one thing in this whole world of parenting skills that I feel like we’ve done right, it’s the sleep thing. I can’t tell you for sure why it has worked out for us–but I will say that they were not all naturally good sleepers. (I have 3.) The number one, which you have already touched on, is consistency. They are in bed with the lights off at 8 every night. Second, they are responsible for getting their stuff done before lights out. Blankies, drinks, stuffed animals…mommy is not making 10 trips to get that stuff (except occasionally for the littlest one). Lastly, we realize that kids can get into bad habits as easily as grown ups, and it’s our job to not enable them. My son loves to crawl into be with us after a bad dream, and I have taken it upon myself to never let him wake up there. I wait 5-10 minutes, then carry him or walk him back to his bed. He’s our strong-willed one so I can’t let this slip even once. I even carried his big 5-yr-old body to bed when I was 8.5 months pregnant! On the other hand, we do love to have them in our bed, but the rule is that the sun has to be up before they are allowed in. All of this is a lot of work, but since I am also a sleep-zombie, I feel like it’s the single most-important mothering decision I’ve made. And it worked.
Anna
Ann says
Yep, I did exactly what Pat (2 down from this comment). My oldest was 2 1/2 and I sat out in the hallway. Just put him right back in that bed each and every time.
It took two nights. He is 21 now. Frankly, everyone needs their sleep. It is the time when your children grow, and when your mind and body rest. Best of luck. Stick to it-they will be better sleepers all through until they graduate!
Laura Jones says
Do you ever watch “The Middle” on tv? Definitely thought of this post a couple weeks ago when Sue showed up to a dance and was thrilled to see mirror balls. š
ashley @ the handmade home says
Haha no… I will have to look it up! ;}
Bess Watson says
You make me laugh, to no end! AND, I’ve just purchased all the paint colors and “polkastars” stencil you used in Emerson’s big-girl room to revamp our not-so-new vintage camper trailer! Yeehaw! (That’s what we say, out here in AZ!) AND (pt. 2), we’re entertaining the idea of pulling said camper out to ‘Bama, this October, for a wedding my husband will be officiating for his best Army buddy, at the Fort Conde Inn, in Mobile! All that to say, your design mojo has added a ton of color to my life, and it’s coming full circle, right back at’cha! X’s and O’s!
ashley @ the handmade home says
Awe! Hugs to you! ;}
Raquel says
Thanks so much for sharing your experience Ashley! Sheesh…. who knew something so pretty could cause so much trouble!