Last night, after my latest battle with my daughter and another attempt to make her going to bed at a reasonable time, I decided to investigate. I found another book of theories and tactics for children and basic sleep problems. Fortunately, thanks to technology, today this is just a click away. I started reading and I seemed to be experiencing déjà vu. Whenever my daughter is entering a new phase or she will experience something new, (you name it: from going from breastfeeding to formula, to eating solid foods; going to school or vacations; leaving the pacifier; potty training; moving from crib to bed… and counting) I always had the same experience. I anticipate for the change or the situation, and after I read every book on the subject and have consulted with a circle of experts (i.e. my mom friends), I make the first step. Then I panic. This happens as the first few days may be difficult in some cases. Other times, such as what happened with Eva and the pacifier, it’s like nothing happened. When things do not go fast, and the transition is not what I expected, panic increases. Because after you’ve tamed the lion, thanks to the change he rebels, hence you have to start again. Then I go back to the books, Google, and my circle of experts. And although eventually I overcome every stage, I can’t understand why I can’t deal with each change with greater calm. Maybe it’s my personality, perhaps many moms are like that … I do not know. From what I see in my online searches, I’m not the only one with the feeling of going crazy when the routine is interrupted with another change.
Anyway, last night while reading, a sole image was coming to my head: Indiana Jones. I never thought I would someday compare myself with this character. But after some thought, moms are somehow Indiana Moms. Adventurous and daring, each stage of our children may seem like an action movie, where the only things we are missing from Indiana are the hat, whip, and his films’ featured music soundtrack in the background. We are always looking for something. After having found it, having defeated enemies, having done stunts and acrobatics to reach our goal successfully whatever it may be, once we have the victory in our hands instead of sitting down and enjoy it we find another problem, hence we begin another search for something else, another adventure and another puzzle to solve. And then it goes another Indiana Moms sequel…
I know it’s a matter of time for my daughter to adjust to this new situation. I know I’ll not spend a lifetime fighting with her to go sleep. At some point this will be resolved. So I put on the hat, grab the whip and I’m like “Indiana Moms and the Last Book Crusade”. I went through “Raiders of the Terrible Twos”, “Indiana Moms and the Diapers of Doom”, “Indiana Moms and the Kingdom of the Potty Training.” And as they say, I keep calm and move on to another Indiana movie, because Indiana Moms sequels will be endless… I leave you with the films’ music so you can take on your next challenge with a better sense of adventure!
