It’s just a phase.

Pardon me for saying what I’m about to say, as it sounds a little harsh.  I’m going to slap the next person who says “It’s just a phase”.  Honestly, I think I might.  Kitten is going through something (don’t you dare call it a phase).  For the last few weeks she has been out of sorts.  Her lack of sorts has resulted in a lack of sleep-hers and ours.  Last night we were all awake from 11:40 until 1:15, and one of us was screaming for the majority of the time (I won’t say who).

This little cherub actually bears a striking resemblance to Kitten.

First it started with her getting a cold, and then Fifth’s disease, and then an ear infection, and then a stomach bug.  All back to back.  We attributed her foul mood and sleepless nights to her foul health and did what any normal parent would; we brought her to sleep in our bed.  It seemed like a good idea at the time.  Famous.last.words.  She settled back into her own bed for a few days and then something cosmic happened to bring us right back down off our Great Parents Pedestal.

I say cosmic because every mother with a child born in Spring of 2011 I have talked to is having the same problem.  None of them are sleeping. They are either waking in the middle of the night screaming like a tween at a One Direction concert or are waking up at the butt crack of dawn.  Or in our case: both.  God help us all when mommy hasn’t had a full night’s sleep.

You can just hear the girls screaming can’t you?

My friends of the other kids involved in the cosmic event are all trying to put our fingers on what has caused this issue.  Crowd sourcing on Facebook revealed: language development, motor development, budding teeth, and illness.  You know typical two year old behavior.  Someone without a child in this age bracket, but certainly a parent of an older child, commented that “it’s just a phase”.  Thanks for that.  Can we all agree that on the list of most unhelpful comments out there “it’s just a phase” is up at the top?  Right underneath “Gee, you sure are running late.”

I know it’s just a phase.  Believe me, I am reminding myself daily as I slog through my workday and hope for a better night’s sleep.  What would be more helpful from the experienced moms out there would be some empathy.    It always makes me feel better to know that other parents have been down this road before and lived to tell about it, and so did their kids.  And perhaps a big cup of coffee wouldn’t hurt either.

15 thoughts on “It’s just a phase.”

  5. Yikes – this made me shudder: “First it started with her getting a cold, and then Fifth’s disease, and then an ear infection, and then a stomach bug. All back to back.” When it rains, it pours! Poor thing, and Poor Momma!!!

    My 2.5 year olds have never given me a solid block of sleep since about 18 months old. It’s usually explainable (molars, growth spurt), but it sure does suck. The worst part is that they never go through the phase at the same time, so even if one is sleeping well, the other is going through something.

    My girlie lately has been moaning and crying in her sleep. Last night, she was screaming, “My Dora shirt!!!” which baffles me because she doesn’t own a Dora shirt…

    I honestly think that the moms who say that their kids are PERFECT SLEEPERS and never once woke up are all full of shit! 😉

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    1. Thankfully she’s all better now, but it was a rough six weeks! My older daughter is a great sleeper and still occsionally takes a nap at almost 5yo! The little one, she’s never gonna be a rockstar sleeper. I think I’ll be tired the rest of my life.

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  6. My just-turned-two-year-old isn’t sleeping either…we’re up with her once or twice every night to hug and rock her before putting her back in the crib. Glad I’m not alone!

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  8. Good to know I’m not living this nightmare alone! My 21 month old has deteriorated from a good-natured kid to a whining screaming tantrum throwing mess just during the past month. We thought it was illness at first too since she also had multiple colds and an earache. But several weeks on it seems to be the new normal.

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  9. Read these books! Learn about the states of disequilibrium and equilibrium. The series is an oldie but goodie and saved my sanity soooo many times (it was old even when my kids were young). There’s something very soothing and reassuring about the way the authors portray the little quirks of each age. “Little Hortense’s fascination with setting the curtains on fire will soon fade as she gains a command of the language in order to express herself in a different way.”

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    1. Randi, I’ve seen this series at the library and have thumbed through it. Sounds like now might be a good time to pick them up. Thanks for the suggestion! And I know Kitten wouldn’t hesitate for a second to set the house on fire if given the necessary tools!

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  11. I hear ya loud and clear, Sister! I feel the same way about that fucking phrase “this too shall pass”! Whatever! 😉 (p.s. after I just BRAGGED about how easy bedtimes have been, my two youngest are doing their damndest to prove me wrong!)

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