We have always had a difficult time getting AJ to bed. Even as a baby he would get overstimulated and miserable, and just not be able to sleep. Age, apparently, does not improve this. I still fight with AJ almost every night to go to bed.
Anyway, as it's been so cold at night lately, and AJ's room has very poor insulation and gets quite cold, we've been making him sleep upstairs in his sister's room. Fate worse than death for an eight year old boy, I'm sure. AJ of course, spent every night creeping back down the stairs and having to be taken back to bed repeatedly. Threats didn't work, taking away his priveleges, no video games, internet, whatever, nothing worked. The frustration level in the house began to build, again.
Finally, two nights ago, I got tired of fighting with him, and allowed him to bundle up and go sleep in his own room. Miracle of all miracles, he went to bed quietly without fighting, and both mornings, got out of bed, also without a fight. So this morning, I made sure to really praise AJ about how happy I was that he wasn't fighting with me at bedtime, and how nice it was that he got up in the mornings without a temper tantrum as well. He listened politely and walked away. A few minutes later, as I was in the bathroom brushing my teeth, in walks AJ and says, "See what happens when you let a man sleep in his own bed?"
I almost choked on toothpaste I was laughing so hard.
