Posted by remy on July 09, 2006 at 10:12 [62.30.116.93]
Hello :)
This thread follows on from a comment made by babie barbie about early bedtimes.
It was one of the first things that I was introduced to by my daddy and one of the things I found most difficult. I’d lived alone for a long time and had become used to pleasing myself and keeping fairly late hours. I tended to work late and so by the time I got home, I needed the evening to unwind.
This was something Daddy put a stop to fairly early on. He explained that this routine was doing me no good and I was eating the wrong things and not getting enough sleep. All true, but I wasn’t keen on his fairly drastic solution.
I now have an 8pm bedtime which he rigidly enforces. It’s amazing how often I will argue about this with him. More and more though I actually find myself tired and ready for sleep at this time – though I’ll often still resist a little on principle.
That said, I love the bedtime routine and find it very relaxing and nurturing. Being bathed, dried, pinned into my nappy, given a bottle and read a story or two while snuggled on his lap is about as good as it gets (I just wish it happened a little later in the evening!!). I used to have difficulty sleeping and would wake during the night - no longer the case. They really should recommend this routine for insomniacs.
Whilst my weekday bedtime is certainly no later than 8pm, if I’ve been a bit cranky or am obviously tired Daddy will bring it forward. And, of course, if I’ve been misbehaving then it could be very early indeed – I’ve been known to be put to bed as soon as I got in from work. At the weekend, I’m allowed to stay up until 9pm, though I actually think that’s a little unfair as I usually have a 2 hour nap in the afternoon so seem to be losing an hour. I have argued this with Daddy, but he just strokes my hair and suggests I must be tired or I wouldn’t be so cranky. It’s irritating that I never seem to win, though in truth I do kind of like the fact that he’s so resolute.
A while back daddy was away for a few nights with work and despite very strict and clear instructions about meals and bedtimes, I chose to disobey him and rebel a little. He called me nightly to ask me what I was eating and to remind me to run my bath. And once I was in bed he would call me again to tell me a story and to wish me sweet dreams.
The first night I did go to bed at the allotted hour but then read for a few hours which I knew was wrong - 8pm is lights out. On the next two nights I flouted the rules completely and got back up after our telephone conversation to do some stuff and watch TV – finally going to bed at about 11.30pm.
In addition, I also ate junk food (Daddy’s very careful about what I eat). Anyway, the combination of junk food and late nights after a few months of being put to bed by 8pm and being fed properly, quickly took its toll. By the time daddy returned from his trip I looked tired and pale. He was able to spot it straight away and he sat me on his knee to have a little discussion. His gentle but firm questioning meant that I wasn’t able to keep up the pretence for long and I tearfully admitted all to him.
Inevitably he was quite stern – I’d deliberately disobeyed him and lied to him repeatedly. Worse than that, I could see how disappointed he was in me and that upset me enormously. I trust him deeply and to think that I had damaged some of the trust he has in me was awful. I vowed to myself that I wouldn’t do that again. I continue to misbehave and be mischievous, but I’m no longer able to lie to him. Whilst the spanking he gave me made me a very sorry little girl, and the 7pm bedtimes for a week (including weekends) helped me learn my lesson, nothing was as bad as his disappointment.
Anyway, whilst I still dislike being made to go to bed, and put up a struggle quite often at bedtime, I do recognise the benefits I get from it. I also love the quality time in the run up to bedtime and the routine is very nurturing. Knowing that I’m all tucked up in bed whilst Daddy is downstairs doing grown-up stuff also reinforces the fact that I’m just a LG. Still hate being put down for an afternoon nap though – having the curtains closed when it’s bright outside just feels so babyish and were it not for Daddy’s firm hand I’m sure I’d resist more. But I’m gradually learning better.
Anyway, best be off – 40 minutes until bathtime!
Anybody else got any thoughts on bedtimes?