How to get your toddler to sleep late in the morning

I'm probably jinxing myself by writing this, but I just couldn't resist because ....

Yesterday Kalani didn't wake up until 8:15.  Yup, that's right, 8:15 IN THE MORNING!!!

This morning it was 7:30.  The last week has been after 7am every. single. day.

Now I'm not going to get into a big whinge about how this has totally stuffed up my morning, get-to-work-on-time routine, because that would just make me seem like I complain about everything *cough*, instead I'm going to focus on how we got to this great place.  The well-rested-parent's place, which btw, if you've never been here before, is a-maz-ing.  

So, how'd we make it here?  I'll break it down for you with some easy to follow steps:

1.  Travel to the other side of the world.  Once there, only stay long enough for your little bundle of joy to just get used to the time change, and then travel back again.  Make sure that the trip takes at least 2 days each way.

2.  Start your little one at a new daycare.  Make sure that he does enough activity at the new daycare to totally exhaust him.  Also, make sure that he doesn't like to be dropped off each day and then when you pick him up he says "I'm sad at new daycare because I miss Mummy and Daddy".  This will ensure that you have a high guilt level which is important in the next 2 steps.

3.  Let him stay awake later at night because a) it's summertime; and b) you feel so god-awful for putting him through the traumatic experience of a new daycare that you give in to his "just one more book Mummy" pleas at least 5 times every evening.

4.  Either let him climb into bed with you when he wake up in the middle of the night, or climb into bed with him, because you feel so guilty about the stupid new daycare experience that you want to make sure he feels 100% loved all the time that he's at home.

And that's it.

Seriously, that was it.  I know that Step #1 is probably a little extreme for some, but it worked for us!

You too could achieve this level of sleep-late-in-the-morning-ness if you follow our easy step-by-step program.  It's as easy as 1-2-erm 3?

The gender test

Okay, so I have a question for you.

Have you ever put a 9V battery on your tongue... just to see what would happen?

Yes? Well then you're probably male.

Seriously - if you're female and reading this, you're probably thinking "Why in god's name would you put a battery on your tongue.  What a stoopid, idiotic, childish thing to do.  What is WRONG with you?".

And if you're a male, you're probably thinking "WHAT? You've never put a battery on your tongue? Where's your sense of adventure? What is WRONG with you?".

*sigh*

Yup - he probably did it too.  Weirdo males.

Home

So we made it safely back to St. John's.

The trip was long (so very very very long) and thankfully uneventful, though it had the makings of a total nightmare at the beginning when I left one of my bags in the toilet at Brisbane airport (it was still there when we went back).  

And now we're home, and it's so lovely to be home.  It always is isn't it?  I miss my family already and I'm already so very sad that I won't see them again for goodness knows how long, but it's also great to be back.  To see Dan and the pets... well, perhaps not the cat... and to be surrounded by our stuff again.  Home.  Mmmmm....

K is getting over the jet lag much better than I am.  As I type he's still asleep, but I just couldn't make it past 5am this morning, so here I am.

It's actually quite nice at this time of day - particularly when it's light outside and you're all alone.  I've just had a cup of coffee while sitting on the couch looking aimlessly out the window - not something that happens very often.  It's lovely.  And peaceful.  Perhaps I'll continue to get up earlier than K so I have this time to myself.  

Well, we'll see. :)

Here's a few pics from the end of the trip ...

You can't really see him, but on my lap is our adopted cat Oscar.  He was lovely.  Quite unlike Shumba!

Having a snack at the airport before the start of our 37, yup, 37 hour journey home

A very bright, but very cold morning at Wivenhoe Dam.  Kalani is wearing Wiggles sunglasses.  Mum is not - she's wearing normal sunglasses.

A koala purse - this season's must have accessory.

The beginning of the 'Old McDonald Has A Farm' musical extravaganza.  The shovel is a necessary prop.

Wivenhoe Dam

Eeeeekkkk Mummy

So it's good to be back.  I expect there'll be more posts coming soon.  K starts at a proper daycare centre on Monday, so that's sure to start a whinge fest from me. :)