Four Things

I am a rule follower, list maker, linear thinker, point by point learner. I function best when things are laid out before hand and I know what to expect. When things are vague, I am much less confident. I was nervous on Caedmon's first day of school because I had carefully followed the only instructions I had (the school supply list), but in the spirit of this small town, many things were unclear. Where should I drop him off? pick him up? do parents stay for awhile? did I label everything that I was supposed to? etc. Marshall laughed at me as I obsessed all the way home about labeling glue sticks (I didn't label them because I thought they were going into the classroom supply but then I had to put them in his cubby, gasp, crisis!).

Apparently I have passed this need for definition on to Caedmon. He has struggled with staying in his room since he learned to open his door (thankfully he was a late bloomer at this skill). We have tried every variety of discipline, but he just goes through phases where he continually pops out of his room. On the days when he decides that the punishment isn't worth the crime, he will holler from his room so loudly that we rush down the hall, prepared for emergency and disaster only to be greeted with, "I'm just having trouble going to sleep."

Caedmon has been requesting that Marshall put him to bed lately. Daddy reads the stories like a theater event and doesn't get annoyed when his snuggly little boy continually rubs his arm. Creative, whole picture Daddy also solved our bedtime problem by creating a linear list of rules. Caedmon has always know what the rules are, but Marshall's method of explanation has been amazingly effective. Here's the magic that has restored peace into our evening:

Before Marshall leaves the room he simply says,
"Caedmon, four things.
1. Stay in bed.
2. Don't yell.
3. Stay in your room.
4. Go to sleep.
Four things."

And just like that, our mighty sleep-fighting boy goes to sleep.