You Never Know

I never imagined how different each of my children would be from one another. They are their own little person from the very start. Emerson is fearless with little caution in mind.  Stratton on the other hand is the most cautious child . The perfect example is when he was 2 and 1/2 and we were swimming at our apartment pool . There Stratton was with a life vest on and a floaty around his waist and not moving from the steps .
They both are so different yet so great ! I am learning that because each of them are so different in their temperment and personality it also requires their disipline from David and I to be different. This has been a struggle and I am slowly learning what works and doesn't .
Bedtime for both boys when they turn just about two has been a nightmare for a good 6-9 months until they transition out of that miserable phase.  What worked to keep Stratton in bed sure doesn't work for Emerson. I used to tell Stratton that if he didn't stay in bed he would have to go sleep outside with the dogs . He always hated the idea and that threat alone would keep him in bed . Emerson one night was acting completely and utterly defiant and would not stay in bed for the life of either of us . I put him back to bed over and over from 7:00 to 11:00 and being exhausted I finally said that he had to go sleep outside with the dogs. He didn't cry on the way out there and walking through the pitch black dark he didn't mind . I took him in the dogs room and he quickly laid down on the bed and said goodnight Mom . I was sure he was going to scream and cry when I went back in the house . Well I waited 2 minutes and then waited 5 more and I never heard a cry . I went out to check on him and he was just laying on the dogs bed talking to them .
I made him come inside and he was crying the whole way begging me to sleep with the dogs . That was obviously not effective at keeping Emerson in bed .

Emerson falls asleep in the most random ways . This particular night he chose the shoes with a sock on his hand .

Then I found spider man in his bed one morning . It is always something new and finally I quit trying to keep him in bed in his pajamas .