Milestones…

I am the mommy of a wonderful 10yo special needs girl who I lovingly refer to as Monkey and although she is 10 developmentally they tell me she is around the age of 2-3. She is finally getting out of diapers! I am as happy about that as you can imagine. Ten years of diapers was not fun, inexpensive or enjoyable. But alas! There is coming a day when big girl panties will be all she wears! We aren’t there YET but at least now we don’t have major meltdowns over sitting on the potty…

Since Monkey got sick in 2006 she has been early to bed, usually by 7pm. She needs her rest or she tends to get sick easier. This year we have moved bedtime to 7:30 unless she asks earlier. And this brings us to last night…

“Okay, Monkey, time for bed.” And immediately she runs to grab her favorite blanket and baby doll. This is the normal routine when suddenly she stops on the way to the stairs and say, “I go poop?” Sure thing! So we head to the bathroom. Now you need to understand she has just started asking to go within the past week so it’s a BIG DEAL!

She sits there and plays with her etch a sketch, sings, tries to tickle me and after about 5 minutes I said, “I think maybe you might not have to go, let’s go upstairs.” And she says, “My teeth brush?” Okay, brushing twice in one night can’t hurt…then, “And floss?” Okay…”I take shower?”

Hold on! This child HATES the shower! Since her brain surgeries she despises having her hair washed or brushed! What is going on? I’m not looking a gift horse in the mouth though! I turn on the water and she WILLINGLY gets in! I shampoo her hair and wash her off, rinse and say, “Hop out.” And then she gives the clincher! While pointing to her hair she says, “And repeat?”

Our new milestone! Stalling bedtime! She conned me for over 30 minutes! Priceless! My forever baby is growing up! Perhaps she won’t be my forever baby; perhaps she will grow into a young woman. Last night, as frustrating as it was, filled me hope!

Perhaps it’s time to raise the bedtime again?