On Sleeping and Knitting

Recently, hubby started a new job that requires him to "hit the hay" fairly early each night, and to be up and out of the house by 5am each morning, so I've been busy re-thinking our bedtime around these parts, especially where my littlest monster is concerned. 

I came up with this chart in order to cut down on the amount of dawdling and procrastinating that goes on between the time we head upstairs to get ready for bed and when her head hits the pillow. I mean, I'm not one for real strict routines, but when the process of getting ready for bed starts to drag on for more than an hour Mama starts to get really irritated, as does my little one, and that's no good.

So basically, I just listed out what she needs to accomplish (put on jammies, brush teeth, etc.), what we'll do together (read a couple books, snuggle and talk for 5 minutes) before the lights go out. If she can get to bed each night without getting out of bed and/or calling for mom or dad or her brother every 5 minutes after lights out, she'll earn a sticker on the chart the following morning. The reward is 5 stickers = a shopping trip to Savers thrift store. What could be better than that?? And last night she actually went to sleep in her own bed without a lot of argument and stayed there throughout the night...I forsee a shopping trip this weekend!

In knitting news, my Knitting Olympics sweater is coming right along:

I'm nearly finished with the back and will hopefully start one of the front panels today. I've been getting a lot of knitting done while watching the Olympics in the evening, especially after everyone else is in bed....having that bit of quiet time to myself is really, really nice. 

And now I'm off to get ready for the day - Happy Thursday!

Comments

[Natalie]

Love the chart. I may need one for myself. These Oympics are keeping me up too late. I am not doing too well with the ravelympics. The sleeve for my sweater needs to be ripped back 10 rows and I am not loving my hat, which you would think I would be done with as I am knitting on 17s. lol.

[Anna of Helylle]

Well done, both of you! I miss the stickers days, I love them.

[Kim]

WE used a simialr chart/checklist system for Liam at bedtime & in the morning for getting ready for school. It worked great!

[Jodi]

I love the wool you are using. It looks so soft.

I hope your chart/reward system works. I never seemed to have the staying power for incentives. It was my fault -- not the kids. There were days when our bedtime routines stretched on for hours and all it was all I could do to keep my eyes open. Good luck!

[Paula]

I always thought charts were fun when my kids were little. Sounds like yours is working great for you guys so far and who wouldn't want a little shopping trip at the end of the week!
Wow! You've really got alot done on your sweater! I keep falling asleep so my Mogul Scarf isn't going any to fast....

[knittymama]

Ooooh, bedtime can be agonizing, can't it? Good luck!!

[jessica]

I can't wait to see how your knitting project turns out...I had to put that pattern in my queue!

[jessie Light]

er... sounds like a reward for mom! well done!

[Rima Aranha]

Genius. LOVE the sticker idea.