Daylight Savings = Daylight Nightmares

We haven't quite adjusted to Daylight Savings yet, and it's been a rough week. I've got a grumpy, sleep-deprived two-year old who is getting up too early, cutting his naps too short, and testing me heavily at bedtime. I've dealt with more tantrums, outbursts, and total meltdowns in the past four days than in the last month. 

Who would have thought that one measly hour could make such a difference? I thought that today he would have snapped out of it and we'd be back to our fun and games, but I was wrong and had to display extra patience at 9am when the first tantrum happened, and then again and again as the day wore on. When naptime only lasted an hour I was ready to blow. I fought with him as I tried to get him back to sleep, but it was no use. My only consolation was that once I gave up with the nap idea Luke requested to put his jammies on, which I happily complied with, making the expected fight at bedtime a little easier. 

Days like these I worry in my head, "How do I deal with this when I have a baby in the other room to care for? How do I drag a two year old across the floor in the middle of screaming fit when I need to nurse the blameless, hungry infant?" And especially, "How do I win sleep battles when I simply won't have the time to struggle with the big boy?" 

All of these questions will soon have answers, but on off weeks, like the one we're having, all the wonderful excitement I've been feeling is being replaced by worry and reluctance. I don't want to feel worried, but fear of the unknown is grasping at my waning patience and the calm I was beginning to feel about the upcoming arrival of our baby. 

I have a few hours left of this day to make the best of, cranky kid and all, and then the gift of sleep before bracing myself for tomorrow. Whatever it brings, I will try as hard as I can to make the best of it, and to not become further disappointed if things take a turn for the worst. These days, a good book, bath, or a white chocolate mocha can do wonders for my optimism and state of mind. Tonight the remedy is Chinese take-out, tomorrow it will be #4 of my vampire books. 

Now it's time to take a deep breath and let the crazy two-year old jump on the couch cushions and throw balls in the house, at least he's not screaming on the floor. I might even play, too, it's been a while since I made a fort using couch cushions. Hey, on days like these, if you can't beat 'em, join 'em.