A Pat Benatar Kind of Bedtime

I am going to contact Ms. Benatar today to see if she minds if I change the words to her hit song to “Bedtime is a Battlefield.”

Seriously, Leo. What the heck?

Erin was out last night so it was just the hooligans and me for bedtime. We had our usual books combined with gymnastics on the beds in Leo’s room and then after about fifteen minutes of my best reading efforts, I told Leo it was time for bed. I turned on his music, shut off the light and calmly closed the door.

And that was the beginning of the end.

Thank goodness Ellie went down like a dream (I dread, Dread the day when she doesn’t but know it will come at some point). And thus began over two hours of the Bedtime Battlefield.

I snuck downstairs to clean up the kitchen and throw in a load of laundry, all the while hearing Leo “busy” in his room. Throwing books. Throwing his water cup. Calling for me. Calling for Erin. Clanging something (a book?) on his baseboard heater. Somewhere along the line Leo has become accustomed to having someone lie down with him in order to fall asleep. It is a BAD habit. I think it may have started when we went to Oregon in August. Erin would lie down with Leo because we were sleeping in my dad and step mom’s room and we didn’t trust him in there by himself (too many things to get into).

I was in and out of Leo’s room about every fifteen minutes trying to get him to calm down. I tried everything. I rubbed his back (hated it), told him a long story about a little boy named Leo (he loves this). Nothing. Each time I left his room, the light would turn on and the whining and book throwing would ensue.

Honestly, if I didn’t know any better I would have thought he’d had a double espresso yesterday afternoon, that’s just how crazy he was acting. I mean he is in constant motion, he has a hectic, busy day. How can he not be exhausted by 8:15 p.m?

I finally caved at about 9:45 because I wanted to go to sleep and knew I wouldn’t be able to relax if I could hear Leo roaming around in his room (even if I knew he would eventually pass out). Also, there is always that fear that he will wake Ellie; their rooms are after all right next door to each other (thank goodness for the inventor of the sound machine). So I did it. I lay (layed? I was an English major but can never remember this one) down in the bed with him. After about ten minutes, he started to snore. I tiptoed out and he shot up, calling “no!” I thought for sure he was about to get up and start all over again, but I was pleasantly surprised to hear the sweet sound of silence, after a minute or two. I think exhaustion just finally won out.

I sulked into bed. Darn it Leo, I missed “Grey’s Anatomy” and then was too tired to focus on “ER.” Thank goodness for DVRs, the savior of Bedtime Battlefields.